LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

University  of  California. 


Class     S  VS 


HERO    AND    LEANDER 


fif/Yfl^ 


Copyright,  1908, 

BY 

HENRY  HOLT  AND  COMPANY 


Published  October,  1908 


THE   QUINN    &    BODEN    CO.    PRESS 
RAIIWAY,    N.    J. 


TO 

E.  W.  S. 


178752 


HERO    AND    LEANDER 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 

Peithonomos,  Leander  s  father 

Kalliphae,  Leanders  mother 

Leander 

Gyrinno,  Leander  s  sister 

Naukleros,  Leander  s  friend 

Kritoboulos,  an  old  man,  friend  of  Peithonomos 

Klyton,  lover  of  Chrysa 

Strephon,  lover  of  Gyrinno 

Young  men  and  girls;  servants,  etc. 

Hierophon,  Hero's  uncle,  priest  of  the  temple  of 
Venus  Urania  in  Sestos 
Hero 

Philanthe,  a  maid  of  the  temple,  attending  Hero 
Chrysa,  a  maid  of  the  temple 
A  madman 

Tivo  guards  of  the  temple 
Two  maids  of  the  temple,  attending  Hero 
Captain  of  the  guards 
People  of  Sestos;  guards;  maids  of  the  temple 

The  action  takes  place  in  Sestos  and  Abydos,  sit- 
uated on  opposite  shores  of  the  Hellespont 


ACT  I 


^     OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

Of 


HERO  AND  LEANDER 


A 


Act   I 

BY  DOS.  The  home  of  Peithonomos 
and  Kalliphae,  Leander's  parents.  The 
time  is  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  On 
the  right  is  seen  the  orchard-front  of 
Peithonomosy  house,  built  of  weather- 
stained  wood  in  simple  Greek  style,  with 
the  low  Greek  gable.  A  door  in  the  cen- 
tre leads  out  on  the  Doric  porch.  On  the 
left  and  back  are  apple-trees  in  full  blos- 
som. In  the  distance,  glimpses  of  the  blue 
dLgean. 

7 


8  Hero    and    Leander 

It  is  the  season  of  Blossom  Festivals. 
Kalliphae  and  some  maids  are  decorating 
the  columns  and  door  with  houghs  of  ap- 
ple blossoms.  There  are  also  present, 
conversing  quietly,  watching  the  work  of 
decoration,  Peithonomos  and  Kritoboulos, 
an  old  man.  During  the  first  part  of  this 
act  young  girls  dressed  in  white,  with 
wreaths  of  apple  blossoms  on  their  heads, 
are  now  and  then  seen  running  through 
the  orchard,  pursued  by  young  men, 
slightly  disguised  as  Satyrs.  A  noise  of 
merriment,  shouts  of  laughter,  singing, 
and  all  the  sounds  of  irrepressible  youth 
pervade  the  atmosphere,  forming  a  gay 
background  of  stir,  confusion,  and  noise 
for  the  events  on  the  stage. 

Kalliphae 
(pausing,  surveying  the  work  of  decoration). 
Peithonomos,  look  at  our  work,  and  you, 
Kritoboulos.    Is  there  no  droop  of  sorrow, 


Hero    and    Leander  9 

No  shadow  on  the  flush  of  gaiety? 

No  ghost  of  buried  sadness,  hollow-eyed, 

Staring  from  flowery  lids? — This  is  Gyrinno's 

First  Blossom  Festival.    I  would  not  have 

Her  think  that  less  of  love  goes  into  this 

Than  went  into  that  other  festival, 

Three  years  since,  when  Leander  was  alive, 

And  brought  his  Hero  to  us. 

Peithonomos. 

The  familiar 
Staid  virtue  of  our  home  has  taken  on 
The  quality  of  Spring  to  raise  a  bower 
For  youth  and  love  to  meet.     Gyrinno  will 
Be  glad  to  bring  her  friends  to  us.    Where  is  she, 
Kalliphae? 

Kalliphae 
(smiling). 

She's  hiding  in  the  orchard, 
Playing  at  make  believe  that  she  would  fain 
Elude  her  Strephon's  ardor. 


io  Hero   and    Leander 

Peithonomos 

(laughing). 

Ha,  Ha,  Ha! 

Kritoboulos 
(as  if  quoting). 
The   heart  of   a  maid   and   the   feet  of   a 
drunken  man  have  ways  past  finding  out. 

[Forms  flitting  through  the  or- 
chard, shrieks  of  merriment, 
pursuit,  and  capture. 

Peithonomos. 
I  do  not  hear  the  song.    The  boys  have  failed 
To  catch  the  girls. 

Kalliphae. 

I  cannot  take  the  spirit 
Of  merriment.    Three  years  ago  to-day 
Leander  sang  the  Blossom  Song  with  Hero 
In  this  same  place.      (Pause.)     And  then  he 

sailed  away, 
He  and  his  friends,  to  the  far  Southland,  never 
To  come  again. 


Hero    and    Leander  ii 

Peithonomos. 

Let  us  put  by  the  past 
At  least  to-day,  for  our  Gyrinno's  sake! 
She  has  the  present  claim. 

[Again  forms  are  seen  flitting 
through  the  trees,  girls  trying 
to  escape,  with  young  men  pur- 
suing them.  They  disappear. 
Shouts  of  boisterous  mirth  and 
triumph. 

Kritoboulos. 

They  celebrate 
A  different  festival  across  the  strait 
To-day,  in  Sestos.     Hero  takes  the  vows 
As  priestess  of  Venus  Urania. 
The  priest,  her  uncle,  has  prevailed  at  last. 

Kalliphae. 
Ye  Gods  of  Love !    Hero,  who  was  to  be 
Leander's  wife,  the  mother  of  his  children, 
Doomed  to  the  barren  service  of  that  Goddess 
Of  fleshless  love. 


12  Hero   and    Leander 

Peithonomos. 

Venus  Urania  is 
Goddess  of  Love  spiritual!    We  may 
Not  worship  her,  yet  must  respect  the  faith 
That  comforts  others — 

Kalliphae. 

Though  that  faith  assails 
The  love  we  celebrate ! 

[More  pursuit  among  the  trees, 
ending  in  a  long  continued 
shout. 

Kritoboulos. 

Listen!     More  captives! 
How  full  Life  speaks  in  them ! 

Kalliphae. 

Ah !     But  to  think 
That  Hero's  love  should  be  held  up  to  her 
A  loathsome  thing. 

[Weeps. 
Peithonomos 

(comforting  her). 
Three  years  work  many  changes 
In  youth.     Perhaps  she  has  forgotten  him. 


Hero    and    Leander  13 

Kalliphae. 
Forgotten  him !    You  do  not  know  how  women 
Like  Hero  love!  (with  a  rapt  expression). 

She  has  withdrawn  from  all 
The  uses  of  life  because  Leander  held 
All  of  them  for  her.     She  has  set  his  image 
Among  the  unchanging  stars,  a  deathless  pres- 
ence 
Upon  her  way.    Out  of  the  silences 
Of  prayer  his  spirit  speaks  to  her,  and  hers 
Mounts,  an  unwavering  spire  of  flame,  to  be 

With  him. 

[Sounds  of  a  song,  sung  by  young 

men  and  girls,  are  heard  faintly 

in   the   distance.     Kalliphae 

pauses,  listening. 

Peithonomos. 
The  girls  have  all  been  captured.    They  are 
Singing  the  Blossom  Song  together. 

Kalliphae. 

The  sounds 

Are  coming  nearer.    I  can  almost  hear 


14  Hero    and    Leander 

The  old  familiar  words  of  maidenhood, 

And  love,  and  motherhood. 

[Silence;  brief  pause  of  listening. 
Then  the  song  is  resumed  much 
nearer,  but  not  near  enough  for 
the  words  to  be  recognisable. 
Kalliphae  speaking  with  rapt 
expression,  as  if  repeating  the 
words  sung. 

Apple  Blossoms  on  the  bough 

Light  and  Life  possess  you  now — 

[The  song  ceases. 

Kalliphae 
(excitedly) . 

They  are  coming;  listen! 

How  near  it  sounds.    (Listening;  disappointed.) 

Why  do  they  stop?     What  does 

This  sudden  silence  mean  ?    They  must  be  near 

The  orchard.     I  will  steal  upon  them  there. 

•  [Goes    back    with    eager  gestures, 
looking  back  and  left,  leaving 


Hero    and    Leander  15 

Peithonomos  and  Kritobou- 
LOS  in  the  centre. 

Peithonomos 

(looking  after  her  with  affectionate  humour). 

Ah!  who  will  sound  a  woman's  heart!     Her 

heart, 
A  while  ago,  was  stricken  at  the  thought 
Of  merrymaking;  now  she  acts  the  maiden 
At  her  first  Blossom  Festival  I 

Kritoboulos 
(as  if  quoting). 

A  youth  loves  a  maid, 

A  man,  the  mother  of  his  children; 

But  a  woman  loves  Love. 

{During  this  speech  some  girls  and 
boys,  not  noticed  by  the  speak- 
ers, have  crept  up  from  the  left. 
Suddenly  a  girl  puts  her  hand 
over  Peithonomos'  eyes  from 
behind,  another  does  likewise  to 
Kritoboulos,  calling. 


16  Hero    and    Leander 

The  Two  Girls. 

Guess !  Guess ! 
[At  the  same  time  Kalliphae  is 
led  in  from  back,  captured  by 
Gyrinno  and  Strephon  in  the 
same  manner.  The  young  men 
and  girls  come  in  from  all  sides, 
laughing  and  shouting. 

Boys  and  Girls. 
We  did  surprise  you.    We  did  capture  you ! 

Kalliphae 
{in  an  insinuating  manner). 
What  shall  the  ransom  be,  Gyrinno? 

[Gyrinno  lets  go  of  her;  they  kiss; 
Peithonomos  and  Kritobou- 
los  are  also  released.  Kalli- 
phae and  the  young  people  oc- 
cupy the  centre,  left  and  back; 
Peithonomos  and  Kritobou- 
LOS  somewhat  to  the  right. 


Hero   and    Leander  17 

Peithonomos. 

Let 
Us  see  your  prizes  ere  we  have  the  feast 

With  songs  and  dancing. 

[Young  people  range  themselves  in 
a  semicircle  on  the  left,  facing 
Kalliphae.  Peithonomos 
and  Kritoboulos  a  little  less 
central  at  the  right  of  Kalli- 
PHAE.  When  they  have  taken 
their  places,  it  is  noticeable  that, 
while  every  young  man  has  his 
girl,  Klyton  is  without  a  com- 
panion, standing  at  the  left  end 
of  the  semicircle,  somewhat  sep- 
arated; moody,  self-absorbed. 

Kalliphae. 

Klyton,  you  alone 
Have  no  companion? 

[Klyton    looks    embarrassed. 

Laughter    among    the    young 

people. 


18  Hero    and    Leander 

Klyton 
(slightly  sentimentally). 

Do  not  think  of  me 
Where  every  one  is  happy! 

Girl 

(good-naturedly) . 
Klyton  cannot  be  happy  with  ordinary  girls. 

Young  Man 
(aping  Klyton's  sentimental  bearing). 
He  is  for  the  higher  life. 

[Good-natured  laughter. 

Strephon 

(Likewise,  he  and  the  speaker  following  him  lay 
ironic  stress  on  the  word  "  moon" ). 
He  has  married  a  mermaid.  She  lives  east 
of  the  sun  and  west  of  the  moon;  and  their 
children  are  Will-o'-the-wisp,  Gold-of-the-Rain- 
bow,  and  Fire-of-the-moon ! 


Hero   and    Leander  19 

First  Young  Man. 
And  his   father-in-law  is   an  old   frog  that 
turns  up  his  eyes  at  the  moon — 

Strep hon 
(with  a  gesture  of  mock  spirituality) . 
And  says :  "  Purify  me,  Brekekekex,  purify  me." 
[Accenting  and  intoning  u  Purify 
me "   in    the  same   manner  as 
"  Brekekekex."       Laughter 
among  the  young  people. 

First  Young  Man 

(chaffing  him). 

Klyton,  why  don't  you  ask  the  priest  to  give 

your  Chrysa  a  leave  of  absence  for  the  Blossom 

Festival? 

[Laughter. 
Klyton 

(sulkily) . 

Maybe  I  shan't  need  his  consent ! 

Young  Man. 
Going   to   carry   her  off?     Good   for  you! 
We'll  help  you !    That  priest ! 


20  Hero    and    Leander 

Peithonomos 
(seriously,  with  friendly  disapproval). 

A  bitter  tune, 
And  one  ill  chiming  with  the  Blossom  Song! 

Kalliphae 
(to  the  young  people,  as  if  to  change  the 
subject) . 
Sing  me  the  last  verse  of  the  Blossom  Song. 

Young  People. 
Yes,  we  will. 

[They  sing.  After  the  first  two 
lines  of  the  song  some  one 
comes  in  a  great  hurry.  He 
takes  Peithonomos  aside, 
speaking  in  his  ear.  Peitho- 
nomos starts;  his  gestures  are 
those  of  emphatic  doubt.  The 
messenger  replies  with  excited 
gestures,  which  express  some 
doubt;  Peithonomos  and  mes- 
senger exeunt  left  back  in  great 


Hero   and    Leander  11 

haste.     Kalliphae  notices  his 
departure,   but  is  absorbed  in 
the  song. 
Apple  Blossoms  on  the  ground, 
That  fruition  may  abound — 
Gathers  now  the  wedded  earth 
In  a  fierce  creative  strife, 
In  relentless  urge  of  birth, 
All  the  energies  of  life. 
Maiden,  art  intent  to  hear, 
As  the  world  around  thee  swells 
With  the  pledges  of  the  year, 
Biddings   of  thy  wedding  bells? — 
Apple  Blossoms  on  the  ground, 
Life's  fulfilment  shall  abound. 

Kalliphae 
(absorbed,  repeating  to  herself). 
Life's  fulfilment  shall  abound. 
[Two  persons  come  running  from 
the    back,    whispering    to    the 
young  people.     There  is  a  stir 


22  Hero    and    Leander 

of  excitement  and  whispered 
communication  among  them. 
Suddenly  they  all,  as  with  one 
impulse,  rush  of  left  back, 
following  Peithonomos. 
Kalliphae  and  Kritoboulos 
are  left  alone. 

Kalliphae 
(in  alarm,  to  KritoboulosJ  . 
What  does  this  mean? 

\There  is  heard  a  confused  distant 
tumult  of  voices,  rapidly  he- 
coming  more  distinct.  Sounds 
like:  "Home,""  Back"".  .  . 
ander  .  .  .  ander,"  detach 
themselves.  Kalliphae, 
speechless  with  conflicting  emo- 
tions, gradually  turns  toivard 
the  background.  She  begins  to 
sway.  She  is  on  the  point  of 
falling    forward    when     there 


Hero    and    Leander  23 

comes  rushing  in  Leander, 
catching  her  in  his  arms.  He 
is  trim,  tense,  and  lithe,  like  a 
runner,  deeply  tanned,  dressed 
in  a  short  sleeveless  tunic — the 
Doric  chiton, — sandals;  no 
sword,  nor  helmet. 

Leander 
(embracing  her). 

Mother,  mother! 
Kalliphae. 
Leander !     My  son !     My  son !     My  Leander ! 

Leander. 
They  tried  to  stay  me,  sending  messengers 
To  sicken  you  with  dilute  draughts  of  joy! 

[Embraces  her  again. 

Kalliphae. 
My  son !    My  lost  son ! 

Leander. 

Lost?    Why  do  you  say: 
Lost? 


24  Hero   and    Leander 

Kalliphae. 
We  thought  you  dead  I 

Leander. 

Dead?    Men  that  have  Love 
And  Hope  as  watchers  o'er  them  do  not  die 
Easily. 

Kalliphae. 

Those  that  go  abroad  are  ever 
Less  anxious  than  they  that  remain. 

Leander  and  Kalliphae 

(embracing;  simultaneously,  with  renewed 

tenderness) . 

Mother ! 

My  son! 
[Many  persons  come  running  from 
the  direction  of  the  sea,  the 
girls  and  young  men  surround- 
ing Leander' s  companions, 
among  whom  Naukleros, 
who  is  about  five  years  older 


Hero   and    Leander  25 

than  Leander,  is  the  most  con- 
spicuous. They  shout:  "  Lean- 
der has  come  home  again. 
They  are  safe;  they  are  heroes! 
Hail!    Hail!" 

Peithonomos 
(bringing  up  the  rear;  panting;  shouting). 
Kalliphae,  our  son,  our  son ! 

[Father  and  son  embrace. 

Naukleros 

(going  to  the  mother). 

All   has   gone   well    and   prosperously.     Good 

fortune 
Was  with  us  at  the  last;  though  I  should  not 
Be  here  to  tell  you  this,  but  for  your  son 
Who  saved  my  life. 

Leander 
(simply,  to  Kalliphae,). 

A  common  chance  of  battle — 
Kalliphae 
(to  NauklerosJ. 
That  proved  Leander's  boon  no  less  than  yours ! 


26  Hero    and    Leander 

Young  People. 

Hail!     Hail!     Leander!     Tell  us  the  story  of 
your  adventures.     Story!     Story! 

Peithonomos 
(almost  beside  himself  with  joy). 

[During  his  speech,  Leander  no- 
tices  old   Kritoboulos.     He 
goes  up  to  him;  they  greet  each 
other  affectionately. 
Ah !     We'll  have  such  a  festival  as  never 
Was  seen  before.    You  are  Leander's  guests, 
All,  all  of  you.      (Calling  to  attendants:) 

Set  tables  amid  the  trees. 
Go,  bid  the  steward  bring  the  choicest  wines; 
Plunder  our  stores  of  all  the  best  they  hold. 
Don't  lag.    This  Blossom  Festival  shall  go 
Down  into  legend! 

[Joyous  commotion  among  the  as- 
sembled people.  Servants  bring 
tables,  bustling  about. 


Hero   and    Leander  27 

Leander 

(as  if  looking  for  some  one  whom  he  misses). 

Blossom  Festival! 
Three  years  ago  to-day    .    .    .     (abruptly) 

Where's  Hero? 
[Embarrassed    silence.    Leander, 
with  sharp  anxiety. 

Tell  me, 
Where's  Hero? 

[Embarrassed  silence. 


Kalliphae 

(with  obvious  effort). 

Leander     .     .     . 

Leander 

(in  terror). 

She  is  not    .    .    .    ? 

Kalliphae. 

No,  she  is 

Not  dead. 

Leander. 

Where  is  she?    I  must  go  to  her! 

28  Hero    and    Leander 

Kalliphae. 
You  cannot  see  her. 

Leander. 
Not  I  ?    She  is  not  married  ? 

Kalliphae. 
If  'twere  but  that ! 

[Leander  in  speechless  consternation. 

Peithonomos. 

My  son,  you  know  the  priest 
In  Sestos  is  her  uncle.    When  our  love 
For  you  buried  its  stricken  hopes, — not  sooner, 
For  he  is  a  just  man,  the  priest ! — 

Leander. 

But  Hero!    .    .    . 
Tell  me  of  her ! 

Peithonomos. 

He  won  her  to  his  faith. 

Leander. 
Won  her?    .    .    . 


Hero   and    Leander  29 

Peithonomos. 

She  is  to  hold  the  office,  held 
By  generations  of  her  ancestors, 
Of  priestess  in  the  temple. 

Leander. 

When?    But  when? 
Kalliphae. 
This  afternoon  she  will  be  consecrated 

In  Sestos. 

Leander 

(in  consternation). 
Hero!     (Pause.) 

Are  Love's  records  graven 
In  the  heart,  less  stable  than  a  casual  track 
Upon  a  sandy  shore?    Was  the  brave  show 
Of  our  united  youth  no  more  enduring 
Than  the  frail  concord  of  the  waving  grain 
Before  the  sudden  harvest  steel?     Our  love,  K 
The  crowning  flower,  the  sum  of  all  the  treas- 
ures J 
Of  our  expanding  being,  no  more  secure 


30  Hero    and    Leander 

Than  any  careless  posy  snatched  to  a  brow 
Hot  with  audacious  frolic,  to  be  tossed 
Aside  in  altered  mood  ? 

Kalliphae. 

My  son,  there  was 
No  change  in  Hero's  heart.     But  new  demands 
Beset  her  as  a  pauseless,  rising  current 
A    swimmer.     The    storm-tides   of    far-famed 

deeds 
Wear  the  dread  blazon  of  implacable 
Change  no  more  surely  than  the  unheralded 
Thin  trickle  of  monotonous  routine 
And  silent  longing. 

Leander 
(pause) . 

And  I,  all  these  years, 
Was  wrapt  in  the  base  din  of  strife  and  gain ! . . . 
What  heart  so   dull,   it  should  not  heed  the 

prayers 
She  sent  across  the  tempests  and  the  crash 
Of  battle !    Gods !    What  heart  in  all  the  world 


Hero    and    Leander  31 

But  mine !    Too  late  I  see  her,  standing  there 
Upon  the  shore,  conning  with  weary  eyes 
That  endless  moving  page  lined  without  break 
With    ridge    on    desolate    ridge    that   held   no 

message 
For  her. 

Kalliphae. 

You  cannot  know,  as  I  who  daily 
Saw  her  returning  from  her  silent  watch, 
What  agonies  of  doubt,  what  hopes  renewed, 
And  bravely  fostered — 

Leander. 

Faith  gleaning  a  desert 
To  feed  Hope  wasting  at  her  famished  breast ! — 

Kalliphae. 
What  sharp  assaults  of  terror,  what  quick  starts 
And  ravishments  of  longing;  what  resigned, 
Patient  resolves,  what  faintings  of  the  spirit, — 

Leander. 
What  ceaseless  hosts  of  dread  and  madness  must 
Have  ground  their  multifarious  tracks  into 


32  Hero   and    Leander 

Her  strong  heart,  ere  the  last  stir  of  desire 
Was  stifled — Ah !    I  see  it  all,  all,  all, 
Beloved !    Was  your  love  so  true  you  had 
To  send  your  living  spirit  to  that  pale  world 
Where  only  phantoms  walk  their  aimless  ways 
Amid  the  empty  vastnesses,  because 
You  sought  my  shadow  there  ? 

Kalliphae. 

'Twas  then  the  priest 
Stole  through  the  unguarded  gateway  of  her 

heart, 
Bringing  the  changeling  of  his  faith  to  oust 
Your  presence. 

Leander. 

Has  that  spider,  lurking 
Amid  the  empty  shells  of  life  he  scatters 
About  his  lair,  spread  his  fine  web  for  her, 
To  fatten  on  her  sweet  spirit?    ...    I  must  go 
To  her    .     .     .     Hero,  delay,  delay  I     .     .     . 

His  craft 
Cannot  withstand  our  love ! 


Hero    and    Leander  33 

Peithonomos. 

'Tis  useless.     Make 
Your  peace  with  the  unalterable. 

Kalliphae 
(going  up  to  him,  kissing  him). 

Go, 
My  son !  and  may  the  Gods  be  with  you ! 

Leander. 

Will 

You  come  with  me,  Naukleros?    We  will  take 

The  ship's  long  boat. 

(Calling  to  the  young  men:) 

I  need  six  oarsmen.    Who 
Will  volunteer? 

[All  the  young  men  press  about 

him,  shouting:  "I,  I,  I.     Let 

us  all  go" 

Klyton 
(embarrassed,  eager,  standing  alone,  calling). 
Leander,  let  me  go  with  you ! 


34  Hero    and    Leander 

Strephon 

(calling) . 

You,  too, 
Dreamer  of  dreams? 

Klyton 

(approaching  Leander  with  flushed  determina- 
tion; too  emphatic). 

I  also  have  some  dealings 
With  the  priest. 

Leander. 
Come  then ! 

Peithonomos. 

Stay!     I  see  Disorder 
Stalking  among  you  young  men,  whispering 
Her  fearful  counsel!     Keep  the  peace!     The 

priest 
Is  a  great  man.     All  plots  of  violence 
Against  him  I  shall  do  my  uttermost 
To  frustrate.    Violence  turns  on  its  master 
A  front  more  deadly  than  upon  the  foe 
It  served  him  to  destroy  I 


Hero   and    Leander  35 

Leander. 

Father,  Hero  is  mine. 
I  go  to  claim  her  from  the  priest. 

[Exit  Leander,  followed  by 
young  men.  The  girls  call  to 
the  young  men. 

Some  Girls 

(calling). 

Make  haste,  make  haste!     We  will  wait  for 

you.    And 
Bring  Hero  back  with  you ! 

All  the  Girls. 
Bring  Hero  back  with  you ! 

One  Young  Man 
(to  the  girls). 
We  will  be  back  by  sunset.     Who  knows? 
We  may  have  a  Blossom  Festival  and  a  wedding 
all  in  one. 

Hail,  Hero  and  Leander ! 


36  Hero   and    Leander 

The  Remaining  Young  Men  and  Girls. 

Hero  and  Leander! 

[Young  men  exeunt. 

Peithonomos 

(calling  back  Naukleros,). 

Naukleros!    .    .    . 
You  are  older  than  the  others.    See  to  it, 
I  charge  you,  that  none  break  the  peace.    Crime 

breeds 
Worse  crime,  his  progeny  being  stripped  of  all 
Their  parent's  counterfeit  of  graces. 


Naukleros. 

I 

Shall  do  what  man  can  do.    Besides,  no  arms 

Enter  the  temple  grounds. 

[Exit  after  the  others,  Kritobou- 
LOS  accompanying  him,  gestic- 
ulating to  him. 


Hero   and    Leander  37 

Peithonomos 

(troubled). 

I  fear  disaster. 

Kalliphae. 
My  son !    The  Gods  be  with  you  1 


Curtain 


ACT  II 


T 


Act  II 

EMPLE  grounds  in  Sestos.  Late  after- 
noon of  the  same  day.  At  the  left,  sup- 
posedly on  the  highest  part  of  the  grounds 
which  descend  in  a  long  slope  toward  the 
ALgean  Sea,  the  profile  of  the  front  of  a 
Greek  temple  in  a  simple  and  severe  style 
projects  far  enough  to  show  the  front  porch 
of  the  peristyle  and  a  little  of  the  solid 
wall  of  the  "cell."  The  columns  of  the 
peristyle  are  Doric.  There  are  a  few  steps 
leading  up  the  front,  giving  access  to  the 
open  door  in  the  middle  of  the  front  wall 
of  the  interior.  This  is  the  shrine  of  Venus 
Urania,  the  tutelar  goddess  of  Sestos, 
whose  image,  unseen,  is  supposed  to  be  in 
the  enclosed  interior. 

The  main  scene  represents  an  open  place, 
41 


42  Hero  and    Leander 

the  sides  of  which  give  the  impression  of 
being  straight  and  formal.  At  the  right 
and  back  of  this  place  are  trees  and  shrubs 
of  a  dark  colour,  pines,  cypresses,  etc.,  ar- 
ranged in  a  thin,  formal  order,  and  sug- 
gesting an  unseen  formal  avenue  leading  at 
right  angles  from  the  back  of  the  open 
place  to  a  heavy  dark-grey  stone  building 
with  a  tower  in  the  right  corner  of  the 
background.  This  building,  clearly  visible 
through  the  spare  trees  of  the  foreground, 
stands,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant, 
upon  a  rocky  shore  with  the  bright  blue 
Aigean  Sea  stretching  beyond  it.  About 
the  tower  there  cluster,  in  sharp  contrast 
to  the  spare  forms  and  sombre  hues  of  the 
trees  in  the  foreground,  masses  of  apple- 
trees  in  full  blossom.  At  the  left  of  the 
tower  there  reaches  out  into  the  sea  a  rocky, 
forbidding  shore  line.  This  line  is  met, 
toward  the  left  third  of  the  background, 
by  a  high  stone  wall  which  shuts  out  the 


Hero    and    Leander  43 

horizon  and  is  lost  among  the  trees  behind 

the  temple. 

[As  the  curtain  rises,  there  are  seen 
Sestan  men  and  women,  ar- 
ranged in  orderly  ranks  extend- 
ing from  the  upper  end  of  the 
temple  across  the  open  space. 
A  few  temple  guards,  in  short 
brown  sleeveless  tunics,  with 
short  swords  and  helmets,  have 
supervision  of  the  people. 
Maids  of  the  temple,  in  plain 
white  peplums,  with  pine 
wreaths  upon  their  heads,  are 
drawn  up,  facing  the  temple,  in 
double  file  equal  in  length  to  the 
front  of  the  temple,  somewhat 
to  the  right  of  an  imaginary 
line  running  up  the  middle  of 
the  open  space.  All  eyes  are 
expectantly  directed  toward  the 
main  door  of  the  temple.     The 


44  Hero    and    Leander 

conversation  of  the  bystanders 
is  carried  on  in  low  voices. 

First  Sestan  Woman. 
They  have  been  praying  a  long  time. 

Second  Woman. 
They  must  soon  come  out. 

First  Woman. 
How  beautiful  she  looked! 

Second  Woman 
(with  a  sigh). 
It  must  be  wonderful  to  overcome  all  desires 
and  be  like  an  immortal  spirit. 

First  Woman. 

Did  you  notice  the  priest's  face  as  they  went 

in  together? 

Second  Woman. 

I  have  never  seen  him  so  radiant.    He  seemed 

to  walk  on  clouds. 

A  Man. 

Hush !    They  are  coming ! 


Hero    and    Leander  45 

Third  Woman. 
Look  at  her.    How  pale  she  is ! 

Fourth  Woman. 
She  doesn't  seem  to  be  of  the  earth.     She 
doesn't  seem  to  touch  the  ground. 

Several  Voices. 
Hush!    Sh!    .    .    . 

[  There  issues  from  the  door  of  the 
temple,  which  remains  open, 
Hero,  followed,  at  a  distance 
of  three  steps,  by  the  Priest. 
Hero  is  dressed  in  a  white  pep- 
lum,  taken  up  about  the  hips. 
The  peplum  has  a  border  of  the 
rectangular  Greek  wave  line  in 
gold.  She  wears  a  myrtle 
wreath.  The  Priest  wears  a 
long  purple  tunic,  with  a  similar 
border.  Hero  is  very  pale; 
her  expression  and  bearing  are 
ecstatic;    her   eyes   seem   filled 


46  Hero    and    Leander 

with  a  beatific  vision,  looking 
into  the  far  distance.  The 
Priest's  bearing  is  that  of  sol- 
emn exultation.  Hero  pauses 
a  moment  on  the  top  step  of  the 
porch,  then  descends  in  meas- 
ured steps,  remaining  some 
steps  in  advance  of  the  Priest. 
No  word  is  spoken.  When 
both  have  reached  the  ground, 
they  turn  so  that  they  face  the 
temple. 

Priest 
(raising  his  hands;  very  solemnly). 
Venus  Urania,  that  hast  removed 
Thy  love  from  all  encroachment  of  decay 
And  sensual  disfigurement  of  earth, 
To  set  it,  high  above  the  reach  of  passion 
And  weak  affection,  on  the  eternal  ways 
Of  universal  law,  made  manifest 
Through  the  undeviating  stars;  grant  this  one, 
The  Chosen  of  thy  Spirit,  constancy 


Hero    and    Leander  47  v 

And  strength  and  self-denying  love  to  walk 
Within  thy  sacred  statutes. 

(Turning  and  approaching  HeroJ 

Hero,  have  you 
Searched  all  your  heart,  and  found  no  troubled 

voice 
Muttering  against  the  purport  of  this  service? 

Hero. 

I  have,  and  all  my  being  craves  to  bear 
Me  witness  in  this  sacred  hour. 

Priest. 

Are  you 

Willing  to  put  away  selfish  desire 

And  personal  affection,  that  your  soul 
May  hold  no  other  but  Her  will? 

Hero. 

I  am. 

[Advancing    toward    the    temple; 

Priest  remaining  behind,  but 

also  turning  toward  the  temple. 

Hero    raising    her    hands    in 

prayer. 


48  Hero    and    Leander 

Goddess,  whose  spirit,  having  burst  the  bounds 

Of  sensuality,  is  fused  throughout 

The  infinite  starry  spaces,  grant  thy  servant 

Virtue,  that  she  become  thy  instrument 

To  exalt  and  purify  the  hearts  of  this, 

Thy  people. 

Priest 

(Approaching  Hero,  who  turns  around;  rais- 
ing his  hands  over  her;  in  an  official  tone 
of  voice). 

Having  renounced  by  solemn  vow  all  bonds 

Of  kith  and  kin  and  service  of  the  flesh, 

Thou  now  art — 

[A  commotion  among  the  Sestans. 
Suddenly  there  dashes  in  from 
the  right  Leander,  followed  by 
some  Abydan  youths  among 
whom  Naukleros  and  Kly- 
TON  are  the  most  prominent. 
The  Abydans  are  without  arms. 
They  post  themselves  on  the 
right,  facing  the  temple. 


Hero   and    Leander  49 

Leander 
(shouting). 

Stay !    I  have  a  right  to  speak. 
Stay,  priest! 

\_At  his  first  word,  Hero  looks  up 
at  him,  with  a  swift  movement, 
as  if  electrified.  She  gazes  at 
him  fixedly,  her  expression 
gradually  freezing  to  blankness. 
She  raises  her  arms  a  little, 
swaying  slightly  forward.  Then 
her  arms  drop  nervously  down 
her  sides.  She  stands  motion- 
less, her  eyes  fixed  rigidly  on 
Leander.  She  gives  the  im- 
pression of  having  been  stunned 
by  a  sudden  blow. 

Priest 

(turning;  looking  sinister,  surveying  Leander, 

— pause;  then:). 

A  right?     Who  is  this  dares  disturb 
The  sacred  ceremony? 


50  Hero    and    Leander 

Leander 

(ignoring  the  Priest,  rushing  up  to  Hero; 

standing  in  front  of  her). 

Hero,  speak  for  me,  tell  him  of  my  right ! 
Recall  the  vows  that  bind  you  to  me!     .     .     . 

Speak 
Of  the  dear  uses  of  our  comradeship 
In  those  rich  days  and  years  when  each  per- 
ception, 
Each  look  and  motion  was  a  new  avowal ; 
The  influences  of  the  earth  and  skies,  of  winds 
And  waves,  the  treasures  rolled  upon  the  shores 
Of  being  in  the  expanding  flux  and  reflux 
Of  pauseless  seasons,  were  each  one  a  pledge, 
Adding  new  bonds  to  the  union  of  our  lives.  .  .  . 

[Pause. 
Priest. 

The  Chosen  of  the  Goddess  knows  no  pledge 
Save  that  within  the  keeping  of  the  Gods.   .   .  . 

Leander. 
Tell  him,  my  Hero,  how  our  love  unfolded, 
Crowding  the  seasons  with  united  growth 


Hero    and    Leander  51 

More  closely  than  the  progress  of  the  year 
Joins  blade  to  earlier  blade,  and  flower  to  flower, 
Until  one  common  impulse  swayed  our  minds, 
And  each  new  thought  and  knowledge,  act  and 

plan, 
Was  bound  in  links  of  living  harmony 
To  the  deep  concord  of  our  being.    Speak, 
Hero,  for  me.    'Twill  be  myself  who  speak 
Through  you.     .     .    . 

[Pause.  Hero  stands  rigid,  as  if 
not  comprehending  what  is  pass- 
ing before  her. 

Priest 
(trying  to  interpose). 
The  priestess      .     .     . 

Leander 

(raising  his  hand,  as  if  to  brush  the  Priest 

aside,  continuing). 

Tell  him  the  Gods  smile 
On  righteous  love,    He  cannot  put  asunder 


52  Hero    and    Leander 

What  the  Gods  have  joined.    You  are  mine  as 

I  am  yours. 
The  spirits  of  our  love  walk  the  broad  high- 
ways 
Of  day,  and  throng  the  starry  dome  of  night, 
A  radiant  host.    The  flower  of  dawn  pours  it 
From  its  dilating  cup;  the  sun  proclaims, 
The  breezes  carry  it  abroad;  the  warmth 
And  fruitfulness  of  earth  profess  it;  the  waves 
Shout  it  aloft  to  the  resounding  skies ; 
And  high  upon  the  sunset-battlements 
It  sits  enshrined  in  golden  splendour. 

[Pause;  then  continuing  before  the 
Priest  can  interrupt. 

Tell  him, 
Your  heart  unsays  all  that  your  erring  lips 
Were   taught  to   speak  by  rote;   that  all   the 

world 
Holds  naught  beside  one  presence;  that  even 

seeking 
In  prayer  the  silences  where  dwells  his  Goddess, 
You  find  naught  but  the  voices  of  our  love 


Hero    and    Leander  53 

Filling  what  were  a  waste  of  dumb  despair 
If  they  were  stilled.    .    .    .   Speak,  Hero.    .    .    . 
[Pause.      Hero's    lips    seem    to 
move,     but    no    words    come. 
She  continues  looking  at  Lean- 
der, as  if  under  a  spell. 

Priest. 
The  Guardian  of  the  Shrine 
Chooses  the  sharper  emphasis  of  silence. 
Take  that  for  answer. 

Leander 

(ignoring  the  Priest,). 

What  is  it  makes  you  dumb?    ...    Is  it  the 

hand 
Of  some  compulsion  forces  back  the  throng 
Of  ready  words?  ...  it  must  be  this  press  of 

strangers 
Greedily  hanging  on  your  lips;  you  are 
Afraid  lest  the  sweet  vestment  of  our  love 
Be  sullied  at  the  hem  by  clumsy  feet?    .    .    . 
Is  it  the  spirit  of  this  unnatural  place 


J4  Hero   and    Leander 

Laying  a  palsy  on  your  speech?  ...  Is  it 
This  priest,  dangling  his  power  as  jailers  do 
Their  rattling  keys  before  the  furtive  eyes 
Of  prisoners?    ...    Or  is  it?    ..   .    No,  No, 

No! 
Speak,  Hero!   .   .   . 

[Approaching  more  closely,  lower- 
ing his  voice,  which  is  now  very 
tender. 

Hero,  speak  to  me  alone, 
In  whispers,  bidding  me  interpret.    .    .    . 

Hero. 
(After  several  vain  attempts,  finally  in  a  hard, 
unnatural   voice,    as    if    her   throat    were 
paralysed,  almost  shrieks  out:). 

I  have 
Forsworn  the  world  and  all  its  ways.   .  .   . 

Leander 
(as  if  he  had  received  a  blow). 

The  world !  .  .  . 


Hero    and    Leander  55 

'Twas  I  you  used  to  call  your  world   .   .   . 
And  now,  one  facile  vow,  one  altered  word, 
Has  spurned  me  into  that  poor  exiled  world, 
A  thing  of  lesser  worth  than  this  dull  pebble 
Beneath  my  foot.  Oh,  world !  Oh,  bitter  change 
Of  words! 

Priest 
(stepping  in  front  of  Hero,). 
Enough !    Go  on  your  way,  boy,  nurse 
In  the  retreats  of  boyish  fairyland 
Your  pretty  fancies,  but  forbear  to  trouble 
This  sacred  hour  of  high  realities 
With  what  it  pleases  you  to  call  your  right. 

[Motioning  to  guard. 
Go,  call  the  temple  guards  in  force. 

[Guard  exit. 

Leander. 

A  right,  priest, 
That  whelms  yours   as  the  mounting  tide  of 

spring 
Engulfs  the  rigid  ghosts  of  last  year's  weeds. 


56  Hero   and    Leander 

You  played  upon  a  woman's  grief  to  force 
A  counterfeit  of  faith  on  her.     She's  free 
To  choose  between  your  living  death  and  Life 
And  Life's  fullest  intent.    I  must  see  her 
Alone. 

Priest 
(haughtily). 
The  Chosen  of  the  Goddess  has 
Pronounced  the  irrevocable  vow. 

Leander. 

Hero! 

Hero. 
[Gives  signs  of  great  agony.  She 
begins  to  sway  to  and  fro,  her 
arms  and  face  twitch.  She  tries 
to  raise  her  hands  with  an  im- 
ploring gesture  toward  Lean- 
der, but  seems  to  lose  control 
of  her  movements.  She  utters 
a  long,  despairing  moan. 
Ah!   .  .   . 


Hero   and    Leander  57 

Priest 

(With  swift  decision  to  the  guards,  who  have 
in  the  meantime  arrived  in  numbers). 

Guards,  clear  this  space  of  all  except 
The  people  of  the  temple. 

[As  the  guards  advance  toward  the 
Ah y dans  Hero  utters  a  scream; 
she  staggers;  some  maids  of  the 
temple  support  her.  As  Lean- 
der hears  her  scream,  he  groans 
in  desperation,  plunging  into 
the  guards. 


Leander. 

For  a  sword  now! 
[The  guards  in  overpowering  num- 
bers push  back  the  Abydans, 
who  are  all  unarmed.  Lean- 
der struggles  desperately,  tak- 
ing the  offensive  from  the  start. 


58  Hero   and    Leander 

At  one  time  it  looks  as  if  he 
might  break  through. 

Leander 

(shouting  during  his  struggle). 

You    must    release    her,    priest,    she    has    not 

chosen!   .  .   . 
She  took  the  vow  in  error,  thinking  me 
Dead.   ...   I  must  speak  to  her  alone  and  she 
Must  make  free  choice.   .   .   .   The  Gods  see  to 

the  heart 
Of  action.   .   .   . 

[He  has  almost  broken  through  the 
guards. 

Captain  of  the  Guards 
(excitedly) . 
Use  your  swords  if  necessary. 

Naukleros 
(Throwing  his  arms  around  Leander,  pinning 

his  arms  to  his  sides). 
Leander,  nothing  is  to  gain,  and  all 


Hero   and    Leander  59 

To  lose.    Think  of  your  parents ! 

[The  guards,  by  sheer  weight  of 
numbers,  push  all  the  Abydans 
off  right,  following  them.  A 
number  of  guards  remain. 

Priest 
(with  authority). 

We  will  complete 
The  consecration. 

[The  maids  form  in  line,  as  at  the 
beginning  of  the  act. 

Priest 
(In  a  formal  tone  of  voice,  raising  his  hands 
over  Hero,  who,  supported  by  two  maids, 
seems  unconscious  of  what  is  happening). 
I  consecrate  thee  now  Priestess  of  Venus 
Urania,  Universal  Virgin  Goddess 
Of  Love  Supernal.    All  the  ties  of  Self 
Herewith  I  strike  from  thee,  and  in  their  stead 


60  Hero   and    Leander 

I  lay  the  ties  of  spiritual  service 

Upon  thy  forehead  .   .  . 

[Pause.    In  an  altered  voice. 

The  maids  attend  the  Chosen  of  the  Goddess 

To  her  accustomed  rooms  that  she  may  rest. 

Priestess,  I  beg  to  wait  upon  you  later 

To  instal  you  in  the  tower  that  expects 

Its  mistress. 

[Hero  slowly  and  mechanically 
moves  of  and  exit  right,  fol- 
lowed by  the  maids  by  twos. 
Hero's  face  is  expressionless; 
her  bearing  relaxed  as  if  bereft 
of  purpose. 

Priest 
(exultantly,  to  the  people). 
Hail !    Hail !    Be  glad,  People  of  Sestos, 
You  have  again  a  priestess!    Every  day 
Henceforth  she  leaves  these  sacred  solitudes 
At  the  appointed  hour,  to  bring  to  all 
The  multitudes  that  throng  the  Gate  of  Counsel, 


Hero   and    Leander  6i 

The  divine  message,  binding  every  transient 
Task  of  the  Present  to  profound  and  calm 
Concerns  beyond.    As  the  vast  peace  of  evening 
Offers  a  mirror  of  serene  and  boundless 
Light  to  the  anxious  disarray  of  day, 
Testing  its  virtue,  so  her  hallowed  presence 
Confronts  your  troubled  vision  with  the  glory 
From  brows  immortal  shed,  for  test  of  truths 
Eternal.    Hail !    My  people,  hail ! 

Sestans. 

Hail,  Haill 

The  Chosen  of  the  Goddess ! 

Priest. 

Peace  be  with  you! 
[  The  Priest  starts  to  go,  making  a 
gesture  of  dismissal.  The  Ses- 
tans break  up  in  groups,  mak- 
ing that  stir  of  gladness  and  re- 
lief which  attends  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  solemn  celebration. 


62  Hero    and    Leander 

Madman 
(coming  forward  with  silly  dignity). 
Peace  be  with  you !    I  bring  you  the  peace  of 
the  Great  Nothing. 

First  Sestan. 
What's  he  saying? 

Second  Sestan. 
Poor  fellow!     He  thinks  he's  the  priest. 

Third  Sestan. 
He  used  to  be  the  priest's  disciple,  didn't  he? 

First  Sestan. 
He  ought  not  to  be  allowed  the  freedom  of 
the  grounds. 

[Priest  motions  to  a  guard;  as  the 
guard  approaches  the  Mad- 
man, the  latter  shrinks  away 
from    him,   saying: 


Hero   and    Leander  63 

Madman. 
Don't  touch  me !  Would  you  break  the  ves- 
sel of  the  Great  Nothing?  (muttering  to  him- 
self). How  the  touch  of  people  soils  you! 
(gesture  of  disgust).  Baa!  (Disappears 
among  the  Sestans.) 

[Exeunt  Madman  and  Sestans. 
(As,  last  of  all,  the  Priest  and 
the  remaining  guards  are  about 
to  leave,  Leander,  dishevelled, 
his  tunic  torn,  returns  from  the 
direction  in  which  he  was  forced 
out;  rushing  up  to  the  Priest.,) 

Leander. 
Priest,  I  demand  Hero ! 

Priest 
{facing  him,  with  determination). 

The  priestess  dwells 
In  the  Gods'  keeping.    She  has  returned  to  the 
old 


\ 


64  Hero   and    Leander 

Tradition  of  her  race,  acknowledging 
The  higher  duty  of  a  larger  service. 

Leander. 
Can  you  stem,  by  a  pledge,  the  tides  of  the 

ocean, 
Or  halt  the  thunder  cloud  by  sacred  rite  ? 
Can  you,  by  solemn  ceremony,  arrest 
The  buds  of  spring,  or  check  the  fruitfulness 
Of  summer?    Priest,  you  cannot  stay,  by  one 
Rash  vow,  the  tenor  of  our  joint  being!    I 
Must  speak  to  Hero. 

Priest 
(with  sardonic  indulgence). 

Youth  is  ever  prone 
To  endow  the  passing  moment  with  eternal 
Validity,  and  clothe  each  painful  loss 
With  tragic  splendour,  beggaring  the  future 
To  make  a  tyrant  of  its  nursling  past. 

[Some  of  the  guards  that  drove  off 
the  Ahydans  return  hurriedly 
from    the    same    direction    as 


Hero   and    Leander  65 

Leander.     They  are  about  to 
attack  Leander  again. 

Priest. 
Peace,  guards ! 

You  know  the  sacred  law,  Leander, 
And  the  law's  penalty.    Forbear  to  invite  it! 

[Exit  Priest,  motioning  to  guards, 
who  follow. 

Naukleros 
(returns). 
Leander,  come  away.    His  heart  is  empty, 
Even  as  those  boundless  spaces  that  he  worships, 
Feeding  the  fancy  he  calls  love  upon 
A  vast  inanity.    Pour  not  your  heart 
Upon  a  desert. 

Leander. 

I  must  see  her,  alone, 
Free  from  the  priest's  constraint ;  must  have  her 

speak 
In  words,  however  strange  and  hard,  but  spoken 


66  Hero   and    Leander 

To  me  alone.    I  cannot  go  from  her 
Thus! 

Naukleros. 

'Tis  impossible!     She  dwells  apart, 
In  that  dark  tower  by  the  sea.    No  road 
Leads  thither  past  the  Gate  of  Counsel.    Alone 
The  sun  of  morn  can  find  his  golden  path 
Across  the  sea.     No  boat,  no  swimmer  threads 
His  way  amid  the  jagged  reefs,  set  close 
Like  giant  caltrops  in  the  seething  current. 

Leander 
(absorbed;  to  himself). 
Swimmer?   .   .   . 

[Pause.  Looking  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  toward  the  tower 
and  over  the  sea. 

Naukleros 
(troubled,  with  forced  cheerfulness). 
Leander,  come  away  I    This  is  all  done 
And  over  with.    Let's  do  something  to  drive 


Hero   and    Leander  67 

This  poison  from  your  spirit;  something  stir- 
ring! 
Revive  our  swimming  feats  of  old.    Let's  swim 
The  strait  and  race  for  home.    Come ! 

Leander 

(absorbed,  speaking  slowly,  with  even  emphasis, 

to  himself). 


The  strait. 


I  will  swim 

[Remains  preoccupied,  while 
Naukleros  leads  him  off. 
Joyous  shouts  resembling  the 
words,  "  Hail!  Our  priest- 
ess!  "  are  heard  in  the  distance. 


Curtain 


ACT  III 


E 


Act  III 

Scene  I 

VENING  of  the  same  day.  Herd's  room 
on  the  ground  floor  of  the  tower.  The 
room  is  bare  and  depressing  in  aspect,  hav- 
ing dark-grey  stone  walls,  and  few,  severe 
furnishings,  among  them  a  lyre.  Entrance 
door  on  the  left.  In  the  back  wall  a  large 
projecting  window,  with  window  seat,  giv- 
ing upon  the  sea.  In  the  immediate  fore- 
ground of  the  sea  vista,  an  ominous  chaos 
of  precipitous,  jagged,  dark  rocks,  with 
something  like  a  narrow,  many-angled  sea- 
way through  them.  Scattered  through  this 
passage,  submerged  reefs  disclosed  by 
islands  of  white  water;  beyond,  a  wide  ex- 
panse of  sea,  running  in  soft,  oily,  opales- 
cent undulations.  Above  the  horizon, 
71 


72  Hero    and    Leander 

large,  swelling  clouds,  such  as  in  the  eastern 
sky  front  toward  the  setting  sun.  Dusk 
has  fallen  everywhere  except  on  the  highest 
domes  of  these  clouds,  resplendent  in  golden 
light.  On  the  right  of  the  room,  a  door 
leading  into  another  roam. 

[The  stage  is  empty  a  few  mo- 
ments after  the  rising  of  the 
curtain.  Then  enter  the 
Priest  and  Hero. 

Priest. 
Hero,  this  is  your  home  henceforward.    Here 
The  even  stream  of  all  your  days  will  pass 
In  the  presence  of  the  Gods  that  visit  men 
In  solitude  and  the  exalted  peace 
Of  pious  thought. 

Hero 

(Preoccupied,  pale,  expressionless,  as  if  dazed, 
looks  about  the  room  slowly,  but  with  un- 
seeing eyes;  answers  nothing). 


Hero   and    Leander  73 

Priest. 

No  worldly  ornament 
Offends  the  proven  temper  of  your  mind 
By  vain  distraction.    Here  you  see  the  books 
Guarding  the  wisdom  of  the  greatest  few, 
Your  writing  instruments,  and  there  your  lyre 
Devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Gods 
Through  sacred  music. 

Hero 

(still  speechless,  nods). 

Priest. 

You  are  quiet,  Hero. 
The  day  has  been  exacting,  and  the  awe 
Attending  on  great  consummations  lays 
The  hand  of  silence  on  your  lips. 

[Paternally  kind  and  solemn,  lay- 
ing  his  hand  on  her  head,  as  if 

blessing  her. 

My  child, 
Last  offspring  of  our  noble  family, 
Thou  enterst  on  the  sacred  privilege 


74  Hero    and    Leander 

Held  by  us  through  unbroken  generations 
Since  it  was  founded.    This  has  been  the  sum 
Of  my  most  ardent  prayers.    This  is  our  day 
Of  days.     The  holiest  office  in  the  land 
Is  ours  again.    My  child,  see  thou  to  it 
That  it  remain  unblemished. 

Hero 

(in  a  low  voice,  speaking  mechanically). 

Yes,  I  will, 
Dear  uncle. 

Priest. 

Now,  good-night,  and  be  prepared 
To  meet  the  people  at  the  Gate  of  Counsel 
At  the  appointed  hour,  to-morrow. 

Hero 

(as  above). 

Yes, 
Good-night,  dear  uncle. 

[Exit  Priest. 
Hero 

(alone,  standing  motionless  for  a  few  moments, 
her  arms   hanging   nervelessly    down   her 


Hero    and    Leander  75 

sides,  only  her  head  and  eyes  moving  in  a 
dazed  survey  of  her  room). 

This,  then,  is  the  goal! 
Is  this  thy  countenance,  fulfilment  ?     This 
Thy  peace,  attainment?     Is  this  heaviness 
The  hand  of  Life,  and  does  this  empty  stare 
Convey  the  rich  intent  of  being?    Are  Death 
And  Life  so   close  of  kin?     Where   are  you 

now, 
Spirits  of  service  in  a  selfless  cause, 
With  which  anticipation  strove  to  crowd 
These  sombre  walls,  to  expel  an  earlier  throng 
That  would  not  be  denied?    Were  you  mere 

phantoms, 
Hiding  your  emptiness  in  glistening  vestments, 
Snatched  thievishly  from  those  you  would  dis- 
place, 
Their  rightful  owners?     Rally  round  me  now, 
In  this,  my  hour  of  need ! 

[Pause.  A  golden  sunset  light,  re- 
flected from  the  clouds,  il- 
lumines   the    room.    She    ap- 


y6  Hero    and    Leander 

proaches  the  window,   looking 

out. 

You  golden  clouds 
Upon  whose  lofty  brows  the  parting  sun 
Has  placed  again  his  fiery  diadem, 
You  rouse  enchanted  visions  that  recall 
Too  well  the  days  when,  as  the  sunset  fires 
Melt  in  the  gentle  tumult  of  the  sea, 
My  being  burned  with  the  inner  fires  of  his, 
And  his,  of  mine.    Where  is  the  promised  future 
You  set  upon  those  golden  citadels 
And  towers,  Leander?    Where  our  paradise, 
Whose  shimmering  domes,  and  slopes,  and  jew- 
elled gates 
You  made  me  see?    Where  is  the  endless  train 
Of  dear  fulfilments  that  you  read  for  me 
From  every  wave  that  tumbled  at  my  feet 
Its  store  of  flashing  treasures  carried  home 
From  those  far  hills  of  promise?    Ah,  Leander, 
Tales  must  come  true,  lest  in  the  bitterness 
Of  disappointment  we  despise  the  more 
The  meretricious  skill  that  steals  the  semblance 


Hero   and    Leander  77 

Of  truth.    .    .    .    Will  those  clouds  be  always 

there, 
To  hold  a  mirror  to  the  mockery 
Of  the  wan  phantoms  of  a  buried  past 
Parading  in  the  robes  of  living  hopes? 

[  The  light  fades  out  of  the  clouds. 
But,   stay,   dear  phantoms;  pause,  ye  glowing 

forms. 
Better  a  living  semblance  than  the  ashes 
Of  lifeless  certitude  that  flutter  down 
The  abyss  of  final  night. 

[Darkness  has  gradually  fallen. 
She  lights  a  lamp,  placing  it  in 
the  window.  Chrysa,  one  of 
the  temple  maids,  is  heard  sing- 
ing outside. 
Apple  blossoms  on  the  breeze 
In  abandon  of  release — 

Hero 

(startled). 

The  blossom  song 


78  Hero  and    Leander 

In  Sestos!    .    .    .    'Tis  Chrysa's  voice.     Poor, 
untamed  Chrysa! 

Chrysa's  Voice 
(outside). 
Maiden  of  the  wilful  ways, 
Are  the  flower  curtains  rent? 
Wouldst  escape  the  coming  days? 
Wouldst  forego  their  rich  intent? 
Art  a  wild,  unbridled  thing 
That  was  never  meant  to  serve, 
Or  but  spreading  Fancy's  wing 
In  a  house  of  still  reserve? 

Hero. 

Can  wishes  grow  so  tame,  they  stay  their  need 
With  dole  of  alien  song? 

Chrysa's  Voice. 
Apple  blossoms  on  the  breeze, 
Service  over,  comes  release. 


Hero   and    Leander  79 

Hero 

(giving  signs  of  suffering) . 

Goddess,  support  me !    .   .   . 
[Pause. 
How  heavy  is  the  air;  the  wind's  off  shore, 
Driving  the  briny  freshness  of  the  sea 
From  the  warm  land.     'Tis  blossom  time,  and 

sweet 
Must  be  the  orchard  air. 

[Opens  the  outer  door,  on  the  left; 
stands  in  the  door,  looking  out. 
What  radiant  forms 
Are  swelling  on  my  vision,  as  if  the  clouds, 
Kindling  with  silvery  prescience  of  the  moon, 
Had  brought  to  earth  the  miracle  they  work 
On  the  far  heavens!     My  hands  reach  out  to 

touch  them, 
And  all  my  sense  goes  forth  intent  to  drink 
The  misty  light,  their  own.     Dear  apple-trees, 
The  year  again  repeats  in  you  his  vows, 
And  you  devotedly  acknowledge  them 
In  your  soft  bridal  garb.     Beware !     Vows  fail 


80  Hero   and    Leander 

Sometimes,  and  there  may  be  no  other  spring 
To  make  renewals.      (Pause;  closes  the  door.) 
[  Takes  up  the  lyre  in  a  preoccupied 
manner;  sings  softly. 
Apple  blossoms  on  the  bough, 
Light  and  Life  possess  you  now — 
Sweet  are  Light  and  Life  to  thee, 
Maiden;  Love  waits  on  the  way 
Where  thou  drinkest  thirstily 
At  the  fountains  of  thy  May, 
With  a  new  light  in  thine  eyes, 
And  a  wonder  in  thy  heart 
Where  the  troubled  mysteries 
And  unbidden  tremors  start. 

Apple  blossoms  on  the  bough, 

Love 

[Realising  what  she  is   doing,   in 
sudden  terror. 

Priestess, 
What  are  you  doing! 

[Drops  the  lyre.    In  a  burst  of  un- 
controllable despair. 


Hero    and    Leander  8i 

Why  did  you  not  return 
Before  this  day,  Leander;  or  why  did  you 
Return  at  all? 

[Breaks  down;  sinks  upon  the  seat 
by  the  window,  weeping.  After 
a  while,  she  dries  her  tears; 
rises. 

'Tis  over.  'Twas  a  mood 
Born  of  fatigue  and  the  vague  dread  of  newness. 
I  am  strong  enough  to  face  the  past,  Leander, 
Guarding  its  sweets  without  the  numbing  sting 
Of  foiled  desire.  Leander,  be  my  friend 
Henceforth;   send  the  cool   freshness  of  your 

strength 
To  be  my  balm  of  healing;  the  clear  flame 
Of    your    brave    spirit    that    never    blurs    the 

edge 
Of  right  discernment,  to  remain  with  me, 
A  light  upon  my  darkened  path.    Thus  will 
I  keep  of  you  all  I  now  may,  Leander. 

[  Leander' s  voice  (through  the 
window) :  "  Hero!  " 


82  Hero   and    Leander 

[Hero  starts;  in  a  voice  and 
attitude  in  which  terror ;  joy, 
and  an  adverse  determination 
mingle. 

Hero 

(to  herself). 
Leander ! 

Leander 
(his  head  and  shoulders  appear  in  the  window). 
Hero! 

[Pause  in  which  they  look  at  each 
other. 

Hero. 

Go!  .  .  .  Go!  .  .  . 
How  dare  you  seek  me  here ! 

Leander 

(Leaps  into  the  room.    Hero  steps  hack,  erect 
and  tense). 

Be  not  afraid. 

Let  me  stay  but  a  little  while.    I  shall 
Obey  you  when  you  bid  me  go.   .   .   .   Hero. 


Hero    and    Leander  83 

I  disembarked  this  morning,  after  three 
Long  years  of  venture,  bringing  home  the  gain 
Of  hopeful  toil,  certain  to  find  my  Hero 
The  same  I  left Insidious  death 

amid 
The  hostile  desolation  of  strange  lands 
Had  been  less  cruel  than  this  return ! 

[Hero  gives  signs  of  distress. 

But  no ! 

I  have  not  come  for  weak  complaint.     Speak, 

Hero, 
One  word  of  dear  remembrance;  let  but  one 
Inflection  tell  that  in  your  inmost  being 
The  image  of  our  love  resists  the  pale 
Corruption  of  this  desert — 

Hero 

(with  anguished  indignation). 

Is  it  brave 
To  array  the  issues  of  the  past  against 
The  present  duty  ?    Cruel  'tis,  inhuman, 
To  pour  the  bitterness  of  present  loss 


84  Hero    and    Leander 

Even  upon  the  tenderest  possessions 

Of  memory. 

Leander. 

Forgive  me,  Hero!    Ah! 

I  have  lost  the  measure  of  humanity 

Since  inhumanity  has  come  to  be 

A  sacred  duty,  sundering  us  who  grew 

As  one. 

Hero 

(distressed) . 
Pray,  leave  me  now.     The  penalty 
Of  your  mad  enterprise  is  death,  and  naught 
The  profit  save  the  unending  agonies 
Of  vain  desires. 

Leander. 

Is  it  a  vain  desire 
To  stay  the  hand  which  deftly  cuts  from  under 
The  present  its  live  roots,  destroying  it 
By  stealth?     Does  not  Death  come  in  many 

forms 
Subtler  than  that  which  slays  outright?     But 
give 


Hero   and    Leander  85 

One  token  that  the  spirit  of  our  love, 
Forsworn,  is  yet  not  spurned  into  the  oblivion 
Of  things  outcast;  that  the  rich  stream  of  life 
Which  warmly  flowed  through  you  and  me  as 

one, 
Still  nourishes  your  spirit,  single  now, 
And  I,  too,  shall  have  faith  to  plant  a  future 
Upon  the  ruins  of  past  hopes. 

Hero 

(eagerly,  correcting  him). 

A  future 

On  the  fruition  of  past  hopes  I    Our  love 

Be  thus  a  well  of  strength  in  both.     Is  not 

A  past  that  lives  in  us  to  prompt  each  action, 

A  present  still?    Why  must  we  lay  the  hand 

Of  gross  possession  on  Love's  heritage 

To  hold  its  essence? 

Leander 
(with  deep  sincerity). 

Griefs  a  coward,  eager 
To  snatch  at  nostrums,  temporising  ever 


86  Hero    and    Leander 

With  maladies  it  cannot  cure.    Hero, 
In  this  last  hour,  we  must  not  shirk,  we  two, 
The  direst  sorrow  which  the  unblinking  years 
Will  not  evade.     Although  we  live  henceforth 
Within  the  presence  of  an  undying  past, 
Yet  shall  our  severed  lives  no  more  attain 
Their  fulness.     Coming  days  demand  the  nur- 
ture 
Of  new  events.    Languid  they  grow  and  wan, 
Sustained  alone  by  Love's  late  uses.     Love, 
Unmarred  by  flaws  of  feebleness  or  guile, 
Spurns  the  drear  mockery  that  rests  content 
With  less  than  all,  assuming  lofty  names 
To  hide  its  nature. 


Hero 

(whose  eagerness  becomes  more  anxious,  as  if 
she  were  trying  her  last  resource). 

Are  Love's  offices 
Wholly  encompassed  by  the  narrow  sphere 
Of  creature  ministry?    The  pettiness 


Hero   and    Leander  87 

And  degradation  of  small  services, 

Sole   keepers   of   Love's   blessings?      Can   the 

spirit 
Extend  unhampered  wings  when  every  fibre 
Is  lax  with  sensual  ease? 

Leander. 

Think  of  my  mother, 
Hero.    All  of  life's  burdens  she  has  borne, 
Those  endless  little  things,  each  one  so  slight, 
Which  slighted,  suddenly  accumulate, 
Mountains  of  misery,  crushing  underneath 
Their  weight  all  lofty  aims.    Loving  she  is, 
And  glad,  and  wise,  knowing  the  needs  of  all, 
For  having  ministered  to  all  the  needs 
Of  those  she  holds  the  dearest.     Can  the  hand 
Of  lovingkindness  win  the  greater  skill 
For  helping  strangers,  only  by  withdrawing 
From  those  more  near?    Is  there  a  life  beyond 
Life's  fulness,  which  is  yet  not  less  but  more 
Than  being?    Does  the  spirit  dwell  apart 
And  yet  inform  all  things? 


88  Hero    and    Leander 

[With  a  sudden  burst  of  tenderness 
and  desperation ,  extending  his 
arms    toward    her;    she    steps 
hack,  with  her  arms  held  rig- 
idly in  front  of  her,  as  if  to 
ward  of  a  blow,   and  at  the 
same  time  implore  forbearance. 
Hero,  my  Hero ! 
Is  this  sweet  spirit,  whose  host  of  living  graces 
Leap  out  from  each  familiar  motion,  dwell 
In  every  tone,  and  look,  and  cherished  contour 
Of  all  your  being;  this  spirit  that  was  as  one 
With  mine,  is  this  another  now,  both  living 
And  dead;  a  mocking  semblance  of  the  past 
Without;  within,  the  emptiness  and  death 
Of  a  priest's  phrases? 

Hero 

(overcome  with  anguish). 

Ah!     Leander.    .   .   .   Help  me! 
[He  approaches  her. 
No,  leave  me.   .   .   .   Help  me  by  leaving  me — 
Do  not 


Hero   and    Leander  89 

Torment  me  more.    ...    It  is  too  hard,  Lean- 
der; 
I  never  yet  had  to  deny  you,  never, 
Until  this  day.   .  .    .1  can  no  more.   .   .   . 

[Staggers  as  if  on  the  point  of  fall- 
ing; he  takes  her  in  his  arms; 

she  says  faintly: 

Help  me. 

[They  stand  together,  he  hold- 
ing her;  her  head  slowly  seek- 
ing his  shoulder. 

Leander 

(with  great  tenderness). 

My  beloved !     Hero !     Forgive  me.     I  will  be 
strong. 

Hero 

(still  in  his  arms). 
'Tis  better  now. 

[Pause. 

How  strong  you  are,  Leander ! 
[With  a  sad  smile. 
Even  in  the  potency  of  this  great  pain 


90  Hero    and    Leander 

You  cause,  is  strength. 

[Looking    up    at    him    in    radiant 
love. 

Ah!     You  are  Life  to  me, 
One  touch  of  you  revives  me.    You  are  of  those 
That  cannot  die.    Leander,  I  was  sad 
And  in  despair,  but  now  the  heaviness 
And  gloom  have  fallen  away  like  prison  walls 
Of  darkness.    Light  has  come  again,  and  hope. 
The  vastness  of  the  sea  and  starlit  skies 
Is  in  me,  and  the  strength  of  the  great  winds, 
As  in  those  days  when  nothing  was,  save  you 
And  I. 

\_A    knock   at   the   door  is   heard. 
Hero  starts,  leaves  Leander, 
moves  toward  the  door.    Voice 
of  the  guard  outside. 
Voice  of  the  Guard. 
All  lights  must  be  extinguished  at  this  hour. 
That  is  the  law.     Lights  might  show  the  pas- 
sage to  the  shore  to  prowlers  of  the  sea. 

[Voice  ceases. 


Hero    and    Leander  91 

Hero. 
[Turning   toward  Leander;  look- 
ing at  him  with  an  expression 
showing  that  she  is  endeavor- 
ing to  reach  a  decision. 
'Tis  time  to  leave  me.  .  .  .  (Starting.) 

But  Leander 
The  guards  are  everywhere;  there's  no  escape 
Except.    .    .    .    How  did  you  come?     I  never 

thought 
Till  now.   .   .   . 

Leander. 

I  swam  the  strait. 

Hero. 

You  swam !    Without 
A  light  to  guide  you  through  the  dreadful  reefs 
That  lurk,  intent  to  set  their  jagged  teeth 
In  your  warm  flesh? 

Leander. 
Your  lamp  showed  me  the  way. 


92  Hero   and    Leander 

Hero. 

My  lamp?    And  now  I  must  extinguish  it, 
That  guards  your  life !    Make  haste,  that  I  may 

keep  it 
Till  you  are  safe  upon  the  open  sea. 
(With  sudden  abandon.) 
Ah!    Would  I  had  the  power  of  the  sea 
To  carry  you  beyond  the  reach  of  pain 
And  danger. 

[Sounds  of  a  disturbance  without, 
as  of  a  pursuit.    An  impetuous 
knocking  at  the  door. 
(Hero  terrified ',  speechless.) 

[The  knocking  repeated  more  in- 
sistently. 

Voice  of  the  Guard 
(outside). 
Priestess!     Guardian  of  the  Shrine! 

Hero 

(in  alarm;  in  a  low  voice). 

I  must  speak  to  him,  Leander. 


Hero   and    Leander  93 

Pray,  go  into  that  room  until  I  call  you. 

[Leads  him  into  the  inner  room; 
bars  the  door.  She  turns  to- 
ward the  outer  door,  very  erect, 
pauses  slightly;  then,  with  a 
determined  step,  approaches  it. 
As  she  opens  it  the  noises  of 
the  disturbance  outside  become 
somewhat  more  distinct.  She 
remains  at  the  door,  calling. 

Hero. 

The  priestess  is  here,  guard. 

Guard 
(remaining  outside  unseen;  in  an  excited  voice). 
The  light  must  be  extinguished  immediately 
or  I  shall  have  to  report  to  the  priest. 

Hero. 

But  why  this  haste? 
Voice  of  the  Guard. 
Do   you   hear   those   noises,    priestess?     It 


94  Hero   and    Leander 

seems  that  one  of  those  Abydan  youths  who 
came  with  their  insolent  leader,  remained  be- 
hind, hiding  in  the  temple  grounds.  He  was 
surprised  with  one  of  the  maids  of  the  temple. 
So  one  insolence  begets  a  brood  of  others.  The 
priest  has  issued  strict  orders  to  have  our  laws 
enforced.  The  alarm  has  been  given  to  all  the 
guards.  They  are  pursuing  the  fellow  now. 
(With  a  laugh.)  He  shall  not  escape  us,  by  sea 
or  land.  But,  pray,  put  out  your  light,  priest- 
ess. It  is  against  the  law  to  keep  it  burning  in 
a  seaward  window  at  this  hour;  and  it  may 
draw  more  of  these  night  moths  that  seem  so 
mad  to  have  their  wings  singed. 

[Voice  ceases. 
[Hero,  at  first,  as  if  dazed,  closes 
and  bars  the  door;  returns  to 
the  room,  full  of  conflicting 
emotions.  Pauses  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  room,  looking  as  if 
fascinated  by  an  inner  prospect. 
An  expression  of  terror  grad- 


Hero    and    Leander  95 

nally  passes  into  one  of  ac- 
ceptance. Approaching  the 
lamp  in  a  determined  manner, 
she  extinguishes  it.  There  is 
enough  light,  as  from  an  invis- 
ible young  moon  about  to  set, 
to  disclose  the  sea  through  the 
window.  Hero  goes  to  the 
inner  room,  unbarring  it, 
calling. 

Hero. 

Leander ! 

Leander 
(entering). 
Hero! 

Hero 

(With  something  like  the  exultation  of  complete 

despair) . 

All  is  lost,  Leander. 
[Sounds   through   the  window,   as 
of  men  passing  outside. 


g6  Hero   and    Leander 

Listen !    The  coast  patrol ! 

(Raising  her  hands  in  prayer.) 

Ye  Immortal  Gods, 
Save  him !    Life  is  so  strong  in  him.     But  if 
He  is  to  die,  then  let  us  die  together, 
That  in  our  death  the  unnatural  division 
Of  this  one  day  be  blotted  out,  and  we 
Return  together  to  the  paradise 
Of  undivided  love  which  I  forswore. 

[Pause.     Then  dropping  her  arms, 
turning  to  Leander  and  look- 
ing at  him  in  an  ecstasy  of  love. 
The  present  vanishes.    The  past  has  risen 
Again.     It  comes,  an  overwhelming  flood 
Of  life,  crowding  each  moment  with  a  full 
Burden  of  happiness     .    .    .    (in  complete  sur- 
render). 

Leander, 
Your  love  shall  be  my  love ;  your  truth  be  mine ; 
By  the  strength  of  your  spirit  will  I  live. 

[They  embrace.     Leander  draws 
her    upon    the    window    seat, 


Hero    and    Leander  97 

where  they  sit  silhouetted 
against  the  sea.  They  kiss 
while  the  scene  curtain  de- 
scends. 


Curtain 


Scene  II 

r I  * EMPLE    grounds    outside    of    Hero's 
•X        tower.     The  front  of  the  tower,  contain- 
ing the  main  door,  is  seen  in  profile  in  the 
upper  right  corner  of  the  scene.     At  the 
hack,  the  rocky  coast  and  the  sea.    Apple- 
trees  in  full  bloom  here  and  there  about 
the  scene,  but  so  placed  that  the  rocky  sea 
passage   and   the    tower   are   clearly   seen 
through    the   centre.      Time,    immediately 
following  the  previous  scene.    Dim  light. 
[As  the  curtain  rises,  Klyton  and 
Chrysa    are    seen    cautiously 
moving  among  the  trees. 

Klyton. 
We  have  eluded  them   for  the  time  being, 

but  they  will  soon  be  upon  us  again.     Is  there 

93 


Hero    and    Leander  99 

no  escape?     Leave  me,  Chrysa,  that  you  may 
not  be  made  to  suffer  for  my  guilt. 

Chrysa. 
Hush!     There's  the  priest  himself.     Let  us 
hide  ourselves  from  him. 

[Exeunt  together. 

Priest 

(comes  walking,  absorbed  in  contemplation) . 

Ah,  Life!     Why  dost  thou  shun  the  measured 

ways 
Of  order?    Why  wanton  on  the  tangled  paths 
Unbridled  passion  spreads  at  will  athwart 
Wisdom's  designs?     Why  even  upon  this  day 
Didst  send  thy  rude  hordes  to  invade  these  pre- 
cincts 
Of  sacred  peace  ?    Thy  brutal  humour  cast 
A  blot  upon  the  solemn  rite.    And  yet 
More  evil  is  afoot. 

\Distant  noises  of  pursuit,  calls 
and  countercalls.  The  Priest 
stands  listening. 


ioo  Hero    and    Leander 

The  guards  are  out, 
Hunting  the  latest  breaker  of  the  peace 
Whose  boldness  tops  Leander's. 

[Pause.     All  is  quiet  again. 
The  hand  of  Fate 
Stays  never.    The  vain  heart  of  man  would  set 
A  Sabbath  after  every  new  achievement, 
To  win  fresh  strength  from  quiet  contemplation 
Of  failure  and  success.     But  sleepless  Fate 
Ere  the  last  link  in  the  endless  chain  of  things 
Is  closed,  already  is  at  work,  preparing 
The  substance  of  a  coming  one,  and  we 
Must  do  his  bidding. 

[Guards  come  through  the  hushes 
from  different  sides;  calls  of: 

One  Guard. 
I  saw  them  turning  toward  the  tower. 

Another  Guard. 
They  may  be  among  the  rocks  by  the  tower. 

First  Guard. 
Close  in  about  the  tower! 


Hero    and    Leander  ioi 

[Klyton  and  Chrysa  enter,  rush- 
ing from  their  hiding-place,  the 
girl  leading  the  man  by  the 
hand.  She  kneels  before  the 
Priest.  Guards,  as  they  see 
them,  give  up  the  pursuit,  re- 
tiring in  several  small  groups 
to  a  distance,  where  they  are 
little  noticed  during  the  follow- 
ing events. 

Chrysa. 
Priest,  I  alone  am  guilty.     I  lured  him 
Hither. 

Klyton. 
No,  priest!     I  only  am  to  blame. 
I  stole  into  the  enclosure.     She  could  not 
Prevent  me. 

Chrysa. 
He  is  a  stranger,  an  Abydan, 
Tilling  his  fields  in  peace.    He  does  not  know 


102  Hero    and    Leander 

Our  laws.     I  made  him  come,  assuring  him 
These  grounds  were  open  to  our  friends. 

Klyton. 

She  lies, 

Believe  me,  priest,  to  save  me.     Give  no  cre- 
dence 
To  anything  impeaching  her.     Look  at  me. 
Could  this  frail  girl  prevent  a  sturdy  fellow 
Like  me  from  doing  anything  his  heart 
Was  set  upon?    My  heart  was  set  on  seeing 
This  maiden,  priest.     I  love  her,  she  loves  me; 
And  so  I  came.     Pray,  let  us  go  together. 
Release  her  from  her  service  that  I  may  take  her 
With  me  and  call  her  wife. 

[Pause.    Both  look  at  the  Priest 
in  agonised  expectation. 

Priest 

(sternly). 

Sacrilege 

Is  the  name  of  your  crime;  the  penalty 

Is  death.     The  spirit  of  disorder  thrives 


Hero   and    Leander  103 

On  clemency,  and  boldness  mocks  at  mercy, 
Deeming    it   weakness.      You    are    the    second 

youth 
Abydos  sends  to-day  to  desecrate 
These  grounds.     'Tis  time  to  establish  an  ex- 
ample. 
A  judgment  will  be  held  for  you  to-morrow, 
And  since  this  girl  attends  the  Chosen  of 
The  Goddess,  Hero  has  to  sit  in  judgment 
With  me.     Do  not  anticipate  more  mercy 
From  her  young  sternness.     (Calling:) 

Guards ! 

Chrysa  and  Klyton 

(simultaneously  imploring  the  Priest,  on  their 
knees;  while  the  guards  are  holding  back). 

Take  me,  take  me; 
I  am  the  guilty  one !     Have  mercy,  priest ! 
Have  mercy ! 

[Priest,  with  a  set,  hard  face,  mo- 
tions to  the  guards  to  take  them 
away;  the  guards  come  to  take 


104  Hero    and    Leander 

them.    As  they  lay  hands  upon 
Chrysa,   Klyton  in  despera- 
tion : 
Chrysa,  though  our  bodies  bend 
To  force,  our  joined  spirits  shall  remain 
Unbowed.     If  we   were   halt   and  weak  and 

barren 
His  pity  would  go  out  to  us.    Ah,  priest, 
You   hate   all   that   are  young  and  strong,   in 

whom 
The  stream  of  being  runs  full  and  warm;  you 

hate  them 
Because  your  shrinking  heart  keeps  whispering: 
They  are  your  lords.  .    .   .   Your  heart,  priest ! 

Like  a  snail 
It  drags  its  clammy  phlegm  of  weariness 
Which   it   dubs   duty,    o'er  the   bloom-fringed 

House 
Of  Life.    Beware !    Life's  patient.    But  one  day 
Her  sudden  foot  will  stamp  you  out,  and  Life 
Will  keep  on  her  untroubled  way,  not  knowing 
Of  you  and  all  your  works. 


Hero   and    Leander  105 

Priest 
(motioning  to  the  guards  to  take  them  away, 
without  speaking.    After  they  are  gone,  he 
walks  a  few  steps,  then  stops,  musing;  half- 
puzzled,  half -scornful). 

What  is  this  Life, 
This  mutinous  thing,  of  which  Leander  vowed 
To-day  he  held  the  key;  and  now  these  two 
Are  more  initiates  ?    What  was  it,  set 
A  light  as  if  the  Immortals  smiled  on  them, 
Upon  their  brows  and  in  their  eyes  even  while 
He  spoke,  and  she  approved,  those  words  of 

hate 
And  blasphemy?    What  is  the  value  of  it 
That  each  would  gladly  lose  his  own  to  save 
The  other?     Is  the  madness  of  desire 
So  great  that,  flouting  its  own  selfishness, 
It  turns  to  seek  fulfilment  in  its  own 
Undoing? 

[Pause.      The  light  of  dawn  ap- 
pears over  the  sea. 
Ah!    The  night  was  rife  with  riddles 


106  Hero    and    Leander 

That  subtly  steal  upon  our  sense,  like  darkness, 
And  pass  as  subtly.     Dawn's  at  hand  to  wake 
Day's  sober  purposes. 

[Slowly  exit. 
[Dawn  breaks  gradually.  Slight 
mists  hang  over  the  sea,  which 
become  suffused  with  a  pearly 
light,  moving  and  lifting,  but 
not  quite  disappearing.  The 
door  of  the  tower  opens  and 
Hero  steals  out  alone,  carefully 
looking  about  in  all  directions. 

Hero 

(beckoning  toward  the  door  of  the  tower,  calls 
softly). 


Leander ! 


[Leander  issues  from  the  door. 
Hero  leads  him  to  the  centre 
of  the  scene,  pausing  near  the 
narrow  mouth  of  the  rocky  sea 
passage,  the  many  sharp  angles 


Hero   and    Leander  107 

of  which  partly  reveal,  partly 
conceal  its  course.  Every  trace 
of  suffering  and  anxiety  has 
disappeared  from  their  faces. 
They  are  completely  absorbed 
in  each  other  and  the  present. 

Hero 

(pointing  to  the  sea). 
Look!     The  dawn! 

Leander. 

Slowly  he  rises 

On  the  floor  of  the  waters,  gathering  might 

To  lift  the  earth  from  the  abyss  of  darkness. 

Hero. 

His  fires  he  kindles  in  the  mists,  and  they 
Gently  awake,  and  stir,  and  roll  away, 
Setting  a  vast  division  'twixt  sea  and  sky. 

Leander. 
All  heaviness  is  lifted  and  made  fair 
In  miracles  of  Dawn's  transforming  flames. 


108  Hero   and    Leander 

Hero. 

Like  birds  a-wing  amid  the  vast  twin-blue 
New  hopes  fly  out  into  the  boundless  spaces. 

Leander. 
The  air  is  like  a  less  substantial  sea, 
Its  limpid  freshness  lays  a  living  touch 
Upon  each  sense. 

Hero. 

It  seems  to  penetrate 
The  core  of  being;  one  with  our  blood,  our 

breath ; 
A  sweet  coercion  mingling  with  a  sweet 
Abandonment. 

Leander 
(in  a  passionate  outburst). 

Ah,  Love !    How  beautiful 
Thou  art!    Ah,  Life!    How  great!  (embracing 
Hero,). 

Hero. 

You  are  Life! 


Hero   and    Leander  109 

Leander. 

You  are 

Greater  than  Life,  for  you  hold  all  its  power 

And  sweetness  prisoners  of  your  heart. 

Hero 
(in  his  arms;  joyously  and  intimately). 

Leander ! 

Leander. 
Hero! 

Hero. 
Do  you  remember  that — that  day — 

Leander. 
Years,  years  ago,  under  the  apple-trees? — 

Hero. 
When  you — 

Leander 

(teasingly). 

Kissed  me  the  first  time? 


no  Hero   and    Leander 

Hero. 

No,  'twas  you 
Kissed  me ! 

Leander. 

'Twas  you !    Nor  was  it  the  first  time. 

Hero. 

It  was  the  first  I  knew  it  for  a  kiss  I 

Leander. 
How  did  you  know? 

Hero. 

It  was  a  flame,  more  fierce 
Than  fire — 

Leander. 

More  sudden  than  a  bolt  from  heaven ! — 

Hero. 
And  then,  it  flared  between  us.   .   .  . 

Leander. 

As  a  wall 

Blotting  the  earth,  and  sky,  and  every  thought — 


Hero   and    Leander  hi 

Hero. 
Ev'n  you ;  and  yet  I  knew  'twas  you,  it  must 
Be  you,  for  there  was  nought  but  you  1 

Leander. 

And  I 
Hero. 

Stood  gasping,  and  with  every  breath  I    .    .    . 

Leander. 

Drank 
The  fire — 

Hero. 

Into  my  inmost  being,  and  then — 

Leander. 
My  life  began — 

Hero 
(nestling  close,  with  a  laugh). 

Ah !  but  I  was  afraid ! 

Leander. 
Of  me? 


i ia  Hero   and    Leander 

Hero. 
No.   .   .   .  Yes.   .   .   .  No;  of  the  flames! 

Leander. 

You,  too? 
Hero. 

At  touch  of  you  they  ran  beneath  my  skin 

Like  lightning  shooting  branches  through  the 

night 

Above  the  sea. 

Leander. 

And  when  I  heard  your  voice, 
The  rustle  of  your  skirts, 

Hero. 

Your  step  afar, 

Even  the  mention  of  your  name,  the  fires 
Came  rushing  from  their  hidings  (hiding  her 
face  at  his  bosom). 

Leander 
(after  a  slight  pause). 

Have  they  come 
Again  ? 


Hero    and    Leander  113 

Hero 
(raising  her  head). 
Have  they  not  come  again!    (long  kiss, 

then  disengaging  herself). 

'Tis  time, 
The  guards  wake  soon. 

Leander. 

Your  lamp  will  light  my  way 
Again  to-night? 

Hero 
(looking  at  him  full). 
It  will 

Leander. 

And  there  will  be 
No  parting  after! 

Hero 

(simply). 

I  will  follow  you. 
Your  way  shall  be  my  way. 


H4  Hero   and    Leander 

Leander. 

What  is  the  promise 
And  pride  of  this  vast  light  beside  the  boon 
One  little  lamp  will  send  on  its  shy  ray 
To  me  across  the  waters ! 


Hero. 

I  shall  count 

The  ripples  bursting  at  my  feet.     Each  one 

Will  shorten,  by  a  moment,  the  interval 

Day  sets  between  us. 


Leander. 

Hero,  my  beloved, 


Farewell. 


Hero. 

Farewell,  Leander. 

[Leander  disappears;  Hero  re- 
mains standing  a  while,  looking 
out  upon  the  sea.  Leander 
reappears, 


Hero   and    Leander  115 

Leander. 

Hero,  dearest, 
I  will  charge  each  ripple  that  I  meet  upon 
My  way,  with  sweetest  burden  of  my  love. 
They  will  be  faithful  bearers,  for  the  sea 
Loves  you  and  me. 

Hero. 
And  I  will  take  their  message 
Upon  my  lips  and  hands  as  they  discharge  it 
Sparkling  upon  the  shore.    Would  I  could  keep 

them 
Unchanged,  that  they  might  tell  me  more  than 

you 
Knowingly  gave   them.     Ah!      They   all  will 

come 
Flushed  with  the  sweetness  of  your  touch,  eager 
To  boast  of  it  to  me,  and  taunt  me  with  it, 
As  one  deserted! 

Leander 
(with  loving  pedantry). 

Have  no  fear,  beloved. 


n6  Hero    and    Leander 

Love  cannot  lose  his  tokens  unawares; 

They  have  no  being  save  in  the  sweet  concur- 
rence 

Of  mutual  devotion.     Interlopers 

Might  steal  the  semblance,  but  could  not  with- 
hold 

The  essence  from  its  rightful  owner. 

Hero 

(startled,  in  a  suppressed  voice). 

Hush! 
I  hear  sounds  as  of  footsteps.    Go ! 

[Leander  exit. 
Hero 

(remains  listening.    After  a  while  she  raises  her 
head,  saying:). 

Leander,  you  are  Life.    I  have  no  fear, 

No  evil  can  overtake  you. 

[Anxiety  has  disappeared  from  her 
face.  She  is  erect,  her  face 
radiant.  Raising  her  arms 
toward  the  sky,  now  quite  light, 


Hero   and    Leander  117 

she  speaks  as  if  pronouncing  an 
invocation. 
Slowly  the  opal  flower  of  morning  rises, 
Opens,  and  spreads,  and  shines  on  the  marvel- 
ling sea, 
And  from  its  golden  heart,  through  misty  guises, 
Wells,  with  the  tides  of  light,  thy  love  to  me. 

[Exit  into  the  tower,  closing  the 

door. 
[As  the  curtain  begins  slowly  to 
descend  two  guards  come  run- 
ning from  left  toward  the 
shore.  They  point  repeatedly 
toward  the  sea,  making  excited 
gestures.  They  finally  stop 
upon  the  shore,  peering  in- 
tently seaward. 


Curtain 


ACT  IV 


A 


Act  IV 

Scene  I 

BY  DOS.  The  scene  as  in  Act  I,  but 
without  the  decorations  of  the  festi- 
val. Leander1  s  father,  Peithonomos,  and 
Naukleros,    his   comrade,   are   discovered. 


Peithonomos. 
You  do  not  think,  then,  that  Leander  plans 
War  on  the  priest.     Our  young  men  are  in- 
censed 
O'er  yesterday's  events;  and  now  the  news 
Of  Klyton's  threatened  fate  has  been  as  oil 
On  fire.    One  leader  like  Leander  now, 
And  all  the  good  achieved  by  generations 
Through  patient  rectitude,  will  be  consumed 
In  one  swift  conflagration. 


121 


122  Hero    and    Leander 

Naukleros 
(with  forced  assurance). 

Rest  assured. 
He  has  kept  his  counsel  in  the  ship  since  we 
Parted,  last  night,  bidding  the  watch  admit 
No  one.    He  left  alone,  but  a  short  while 
Ago.    No  doubt,  he'll  soon  be  here. 

Peithonomos. 

I  hope 

It  may  be  so.    Naukleros,  for  three  years 

I  have  longed  to  see  my  only  son.     But  if 

I  found  him  leagued  with  lawlessness  and  crime 

Pd  cast  him  off.     (Pause;  softening  more  and 

more.) 

Go;  look  for  him  and  bring  him 

To  see  his  parents  whom  he  hardly  stopped 

To  greet.     We'll  have  some  tales  from  him. 

We'll  make 

A  night  of  revelry.     (Looking  up  at  the  sky.) 

How  sultry  'tis! 

The  clouds  are  gathering  in  our  weather  corner 


Hero    and    Leander  123 

Southwest,     where    the    heaviest    storms    are 

hatched.     Make  haste 
To  fetch  him  ere  it  breaks. 

[Exit  Peithonomos. 

Naukleros 
(No  longer  hiding  his  anxiety). 

I  wish  I  knew 
What  to  make  of  it.     Leander's  not  the  man 
To  mope  alone,  coddling  inactive  sorrow. 
What  stratagem  could  he  have  laid  that  shuns 
Friendly  communication  ? 

(Seeing  Leander  coming  from  left  back.) 

There  he  is ! 
The  Gods  be  praised!     (Calling:) 

Leander ! 
[Enter  Leander,  dressed  in  the 
Doric  tunic,  as  in  Act  HI.  He 
is  preoccupied,  the  fixedness  of 
a  single  purpose  giving  a  cer- 
tain rigidity  to  his  face  and 
every   gesture.     He  raises  his 


1 24  Hero   and    Leander 

hand,  demanding  silence. 
There  is  desire  of  secrecy  ex- 
pressed in  his  bearing,  but 
no  furtiveness.  He  evidently 
wishes  not  to  be  detected,  yet 
would  not  be  arrested  in  his 
purpose,  whatever  happened. 
He  walks  slowly  toward  Nau- 
kleros, who  advances  partly  up 
stage,  showing  that  Leander' s 
aspect  renews  his  anxiety. 

Leander. 

I  was  looking 
For  you,  Naukleros. 

Naukleros 
(with  forced  gaiety). 

And  I  for  you.    Well  met,  then. 

Leander. 
How  are  my  parents?    Do  they  deem  their  son 
Unloving  ?    Are  they  troubled  at  the  events 
In  Sestos  yesterday  ? 


Hero    and    Leander  125 

Naukleros. 

They  have  forgotten 
It  all.    Your  father,  a  few  minutes  hence, 
Asked  me  to  find  you.     They  would  make  a 

night  of  it 
With  tales  and  feasting.     Come,  let's  hurry  to 

them, 
They  are  sick  for  sight  of  you. 

Leander. 

I  have  to  speak 
To  you,  Naukleros. 

Naukleros 

(his  anxiety  rising  sharply;  trying  to  cover  it 

by  gaiety). 

Now?    Alone?    Are  they 
State  secrets? 

Leander 
(ignoring  Naukleros'  words). 

I  have  planned  another  venture 
For  which  I  count  on  you. 


126  Hero    and    Leander 

Naukleros 

(relieved,  yet  not  without  misgivings). 

That  is  Leander! 
Brave  action  is  the  cure  for  hopeless  sorrow. 
Count  on  me !    I  am  weary  of  the  land 
Already.     Countless  petty  cares  contract 
The  soul  amid  these  fields  and  streets,  all  num- 
bered 
And  named;   my  courage  shrinks   amid  these 

prisons 
Of  tame  convention.     Enterprise  grows  timid; 
The  spirit  that  makes  it  leap  the  ordered  fences 
Walling  initiative,  turns  to  intrigue, 
And  ratlike  gnaws  a  hole  beneath.     Count  on 

me! 
Give  me   the   uncharted   seas,    the   lands   and 

mountains 
Surveyed  by  no  man,  and  the  men  not  branded 
Like  toilsome  oxen,  with  the  shaming  stamp 
Of  custom.    .    .    .    But  there's  time  enough  to 
talk 


Hero    and    Leander  127 

That  over  when  the  ship  is  docked.    Come  now ! 
Your  parents  want  you. 

Leander. 

I  must  go  to-night. 

Naukleros. 
Leander ! 

Leander. 

Hear  me  out.    The  ship  must  be 
Ready  by  midnight  to  weigh  anchor.     At  that 

hour 
You  take  the  long  boat  with  the  six  best  oars- 
men 
As  near  to  Hero's  tower  as  the  shore  reefs 
Permit.     You'll  see  a  light  in  Hero's  window. 
Upon  a  line  drawn  from  it  to  the  light 
At  my  ship's  masthead,  keep  the  boat,  until 
I  swim  to  you.     I  then  will  guide  the  boat 
Through  a  safe  channel  to  the  shore  and  take 
Hero  aboard.    Then  to  the  ship  to  seek 
New  life  and  happiness  in  foreign  lands. 
I  count  on  you,  Naukleros. 


128  Hero    and    Leander 

Naukleros 

(aghast). 

But  your  parents  1 
Leander,  think  of  them ! 

Leander. 

Do  not  corrupt 

My  heart  against  my  purpose  now.    A  crisis 

Like  this  requires  a  mind  that  can  suspend 

Its  dearest  wish  until  the  issue. 

Naukleros. 

And  what 

Will  be  the  issue?     Do  you  know  your  father? 

He  has  sworn  to  cast  you  off  if  you  overturn 

The  public  peace.    If  he  should  learn  your  plan 

He'd  be  the  first  to  warn  the  priest. 

Leander. 

The  greater 
The  need  of  haste. 

Naukleros. 
Though  your  heart  bar  out 
Your  parents,  it  cannot  exclude  the  Gods; 
This  plot  is  sacrilege. 


Hero   and    Leander  129 

;  Leander. 

An  empty  word 

A  priest  contrived  that  children  might  invest 

With  superstitious  dread  his  godless  whim. 

The  Gods  withhold  their  countenance  from  such 

Perversion  of  their  will. 

[Darkness  has  gradually  fallen 
during  this  scene.  A  flash  of 
distant  lightning  from  the  left 
is  followed  by  a  low  rumble  of 
thunder  of  some  duration. 

Naukleros. 

Delay  this  night! 
No  man  can  hold  his  course,  when  such  a  storm 
Turns  night  to  blackness. 

Leander 
(with  a  sort  of  flippancy). 

The  lantern  of  the  storm 
Will  light  my  way  when  in  the  trough  o'  the  sea 
I  miss  the  light  of  Hero's  lamp, 


130  Hero    and    Leander 

Naukleros. 

'Tis  madness 

To  think  of  swimming  in  this  sea  when  all 
The  wild  iEgean  hurls  its  weight  through  this 
Strait  passage. 

Leander. 

It  will  bear  me  all  the  faster 
To  th'  other  shore. 

Naukleros 
(stepping  between  Leander  and  the  sea  as  if 
to  intercept  him). 

You  shall  not  do  it;  not 
Unless  you  kill  me  first. 

Leander 

(drawing  his  dagger;  with  dangerous 
calmness). 

Stand  off!     The  power 
That  rules  me  now  has  all  the  bitter  strength 
And  fierce  compulsion  of  the  sea.    I  must 
Go  now,  over  your  body  if  you  force  me. 
(With  great  warmth:) 


Hero   and    Leander  131 

But  no,  Naukleros,  there's  a  better  weapon 

That  you  will  not  withstand.     (Sheathing  his 

dagger.) 

This  is  my  hour 

Of  greatest  need.     You  cannot  fail  me  now 

Who  never  failed,  Naukleros. 

Naukleros. 

I  owe  my  life 
To  you,  Leander.  .  .  . 

Leander. 

No,  not  thus.     Friendship 

Is  greater  far  than  the  mere  breath  of  life. 

Do  not  dishonour  it  by  any  price 

You  set  on  it. 

Naukleros. 

Leander,  I  will  do 
As  you  desire. 

[They  embrace. 

Leander. 

There  is  no  time  to  lose. 
At  midnight,  then ! 


132  Hero   and    Leander 

[He  turns,  runs  toward  the  shore, 
flinging  off  his  upper  garment. 
As  he  disappears  there  is  a 
bright  flash  of  lightning  and 
heavy  peal  of  thunder,  much 
nearer  than  before. 

Naukleros 
(raising  his  arms  imploringly  toward  the  sea). 
Thou  lov'st  him,  sea ;  protect  him ! 
Thou  God  of  Storms,  watch  o'er  him  I 

[A  gust  of  wind  and  distant  rum- 
ble of  thunder. 


Curtain 


Scene  II 

f\UTSIDE  Hero's  tower  in  Sestos,  as  in 

V^    Act  III,   Scene  ii.      Time,  immediately 

following    that    of   the   last   scene.      The 

priest   and   Hero    are    discovered.      It   is 

almost    night,    yet    light    enough    to    see 

everything  distinctly.     Heavy,  threatening 

clouds,  with  occasional  distant  flashes  of 

lightning,  without  thunder,  are  seen  over 

the  sea. 

Priest 

(sternly). 

Hero,  you  still  refuse  to  pass  the  sentence 

Of  law  upon  that  fellow  from  Abydos 

And  his  lewd  mistress? 

Hero 

(distressed  and  perplexed). 

Do  not  press  me,  pray! 

I  do  not  see  my  way  to  do  it. 
133 


134  Hero   and    Leander 

Priest. 

The  law 
Supplies  the  way. 

Hero. 

Something  in  me  rebels 
Against  the  penalty. 

Priest. 

For  generations 

This  law  has  been  the  safeguard  of  our  faith. 

Hero. 
Why  should  it  be  a  crime  for  them  to  love 
Because  she  owns    .   .    .    (hesitates)  this  faith? 

Priest. 

Hero,  you  strike 
At  our  foundations! 

Hero 

(frightened). 

Pray,  be  not  offended! 

Uncle !     Be  lenient  with  them.   .   .   .  They  did 

not  know.   .   .   . 

They  did  not  think.  .  .  . 

[Embarrassed  pause. 


Hero   and    Leander  135 

Priest 

(displeased). 

I  shall  defer  the  judgment 
Until  to-morrow. 

Hero 

(in  a  burst  of  relief). 

The  Gods  be  praised!  .  .  . 

(Then,  with  more  moderation,  to  the  Priest./ 

I  thank  you, 
Dear  uncle ! 

[A  flash  of  lightning  and  heavy 

but  distant  peal  of  thunder  over 

the  sea.     Hero,  starting: 

The  storm  is  coming.    I  must  go 

Within,  I  have  some  duties  there. 

[Exit  into  tower. 

[During  the  following,   now  and 

then  signs  of  the  approaching 

storm. 

Priest 

(alone;  distressed). 

Hero! 
But  yesterday,  severe  with  all  the  sharp 


136  Hero    and    Leander 

Austerity  of  youth.     And  now!     What  could 
Have  wrought  the  sudden  change  in  one 
Of  Hero's  constancy? 

[The  two  guards  that  appeared  at 
the  end  of  the  Third  Act,  enter 
from  the  left,  somewhat  embar- 
rassed and  hesitating,  as  if  not 
sufficiently  sure  of  themselves. 

First  Guard. 
Priest,  we  saw  something  at  dawn  that  looked 
suspicious.  We  couldn't  exactly  make  it  out, 
and  have  been  doubtful  whether  it  was  anything 
of  importance.  And  yet  we  saw  too  much  to 
regard  it  as  nothing.    Will  you  hear  it? 

Priest. 

Tell  me  precisely 
All  that  you  saw,  no  more.    Withhold  all  vague 

Surmises. 

First  Guard. 

At  early  dawn  this  morning  we  heard  a  noise 
as  if  some  one  plunged  into  the  sea. 


Hero    and    Leander  137 

Second  Guard. 
The  sea  was  quite  calm,  you  know. 

Priest. 
Well? 

First  Guard. 
We  ran  toward  the  place  where  we  heard  the 
sound  and  saw  what  looked  like  the  head  of  a 
man  swimming  away  from  here. 

Priest. 
From  here? 

First  Guard. 
Yes.     It  was  right  here  by  the  tower. 

Priest 
(becoming  interested). 

The  tower?     Did  you 
Make  sure  it  was  a  man? 

First  Guard. 
Not  quite  sure,  priest,  in  the  mist. 


138  Hero   and    Leander 

Second  Guard. 
The  morning  mist  hung  over  the  sea.  It 
lifted  a  little  near  the  shore,  but  came  down 
again  in  the  middle  of  the  strait,  so  that  the 
swimmer,  or  whatever  it  was,  disappeared  in  it 
as  he  swam  away. 

Priest. 

You  say,  this  man 
Swam  toward  the  open  sea  ? 

First  Guard. 

Yes,  I  should  say  he  headed  straight  for 
Abydos. 

Priest 

(startled). 

Abydos  ? 

Second  Guard. 

Yes,  priest.  And  because  one  of  those  in- 
solent Abydans  was  caught  here  last  night,  we 
finally  agreed  we  ought  to  report  to  you. 


Hero   and    Leander  139 

Priest 
(to  himself). 

From  Hero's  tower! 
(To  the  guards.) 
Who  are  the  best  known  swimmers  hereabout? 

Second  Guard. 

There's  Naukleros.     (Brightening  up.)     But 

the  greatest  of  all  is  Leander.    He  won  all  the 

races. 

Priest 

(aghast;  to  himself). 
Leander ! 

Second  Guard. 

Oh,  Leander  used  to  swim  the  strait.     He 
went  faster  than  you  could  row  a  boat. 

First  Guard. 
The  swimmer  this  morning  swam  faster  than 
any  man  I  ever  saw.  He  (pointing  to  Second 
Guard)  thought  it  was  a  porpoise.  But  por- 
poises don't  swim  alone,  and  straight  for 
Abydos ! 


140  Hero   and    Leander 

Priest. 
Have  you  any  more  to  tell  ? 

First  Guard. 
No,  priest.     That's  all. 

Priest. 
Thank  you. 
[As  the  guards  turn  to  leave,  some 
of  the  rocks  jutting  out  into  the 
sea  passage  take  a  light,  first 
flickering,  then  moving,  and 
finally  remaining  stationary,  as 
of  a  lamp,  lit,  carried  to,  and 
left  in  the  tower  window,  fac* 
ing  toward  the  sea.  The 
guards  start,  noticing  it. 

First  Guard. 
Priest,  there  was  a  light  in  the  tower  window 
last  night.  I  had  to  insist  several  times  on  its 
being  put  out.  There  it  is  again.  It  might 
light  the  passage  through  the  rocks  for  any 
prowler  of  the  sea. 


Hero    and    Leander  141 

Priest 
(showing  profound  emotion;  to  himself). 

A  light  in  Hero's  window,  lighting 
The  passage!     (To  the  guards:) 
Stay! 
[Pause.     The  Priest  betrays  signs 
of    a    terrible    inner    struggle. 
He  finally  becomes  calm.    His 
face  is  rigid,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  hard  resolve.     To  the 
guards : 

Go!     Call  the  priestess.     I 
Request  to  see  her.    You  remain  to  guard 

The  shore. 

[Guards  go  to  the  tower,  knock  at 

the  door.  The  door  is  opened 
by  an  unseen  person,  to  whom 
the  guards  speak,  pointing  to- 
ward the  Priest,  who  stands 
motionless,  looking  fixedly  at 
the  tower.  It  is  dark.  Thun- 
der and  lightning,  intermingled 


142  Hero    and    Leander 

with  gusts  of  wind,  more  fre- 
quent. Hero  comes  out  of  the 
tower}  advancing  toward  the 
Priest.  Her  bearing  betrays 
anxiety  which  she  tries  to  cover. 
The  guards  station  themselves 
back,  near  the  passage  through 
the  rocks.  They  are  noticed 
only  by  occasional  movements. 

Priest 
(with  unnatural  calmness). 

A  lamp  is  burning  in  your  window, 
Hero.     Our  law  prohibits  lights  that  might 
Betray  our  shore  to  adventurers. 

Hero 

(with  forced  unconcern). 

But  who 
Would  come  a  night  like  this? 

[The  storm  increases  in  severity. 


Hero   and    Leander  143 

Priest. 


Extinguished. 


Immediately. 
I  need  the  light. 


The  light  must  be 

Hero. 

Very  soon  I'll  do  it. 

Priest. 

Yes, 

Hero. 

Grant  me  a  little  while. 

Priest. 

The  law  wants  darkness. 

Hero. 

I    .  .  . 

The  priestess  is  not  subject  to  such  rules! 

Priest. 
Hero!     Remove  the  light! 

Hero. 

I  cannot  do  it. 
Priest. 

Then  I  must  do  it  to  save  you  from  yourself ! 

[He  makes  a  motion  as  if  going  to 

the  tower. 


144  Hero   and    Leander 

Hero 
(in  terror). 
I'll  do  it  myself.    .    .    .    That  is  the  priestess1 

room, 
Let  no  man  enter  it! 

Priest 
(raising  his  hand). 

Let  no  man  enter  it! 
(Turning  as  if  to  go  toward  the  tower.) 
It  must  be  done. 

Hero 

(seizing  his  arm). 

You  shall  not  do  it.     It  is 
My  room. 

Priest 

(struggling  to  free  himself,  gradually  moving 

toward  the  tower). 
I  must! 

Hero 

(in  her  losing  struggle  with  the  Priest  utters  a 
succession  of  desperate  and  helpless:). 

No!    No!  .  .  .  No!  .  .  .  No,  No,  No!  .  .  . 


Hero   and    Leander  145 

[They  have  arrived  at  the  steps 
leading  to  the  tower  door. 
With  a  sudden  movement  the 
Priest  frees  himself  from 
Hero,  flinging  her  from  him. 
He  dashes  into  the  tower,  slam- 
ming the  door.  Sounds  of  its 
being  barred  inside.  An  in- 
stant later  the  light  on  the  rocks 
disappears.  Hero,  who  has 
half  fallen,  recovers  herself, 
rushes  up  the  steps  after  him, 
throwing  herself  against  the 
door,  which  does  not  yield. 
After  trying  the  door  several 
times,  she  sinks  upon  the  top 
step,  moaning. 

Stay !     I  will  tell  you  all. 
Only  stay! 

[Pause.  The  door  is  unbarred  and 
opened.  Hero  rises,  looks  to- 
ward the  open  door  in  speech- 


146  Hero   and    Leander 

less  terror;  then  shrinks  back 
down  the  steps,  continuing  on 
the  level  ground,  constantly 
facing  the  door.  In  the  door 
appears  the  Priest,  holding  the 
extinguished  lamp  in  his  hand. 
He  pauses  a  while,  then  slowly 
descends  the  steps,  looking  fix- 
edly at  Hero. 

Hero. 

Pray,  give  me  the  lamp. 

Priest. 

I  cannot. 
I  keep  the  lamp  to-night. 

Hero 
(rushing  toward  him;  on  her  knees,  clasping 

his). 

Imprison  me! 
Kill  me !     Cast  me  into  that  sea ! 

(White  foam  now  and  then  leaping  over  the 
rocks.) 


Hero    and    Leander  147 

But  leave 
The  light  this  one  night.  Uncle,  dearest  uncle ! 
Save  him !  Ah,  save  him !  He  is  fighting  there, 
There,  in  that  horror  now!  If  the  light  fails 
He  dies,  alone,  forsaken;  his  heart  will  call 
Me  murderer.  Save  him,  pray,  save  him,  and  I 
Will  be  your  slave  henceforth. 

Priest. 

I  cannot  save  him. 
But  you,  I  will ! 

(To  guards ,  who  come  running:) 

Hasten,  give  the  alarm! 

The  guards  in  force  patrol  this  coast  throughout 

The    night!     Neglect    no    cove,    nor    slightest 

channel 

That  might  give  access  to  the  shore. 

(Holding  out  the  lamp.) 

Take  this 

To  my  house.     Bid  the  steward  keep  it 

Safe  till  I  ask  for  it  myself. 

[First    Guard    takes    it.      The 

guards  are  about  to  leave  when 


148  Hero    and    Leander 

Hero  rises  in  madness  of  des- 
peration. 

Hero. 
Stay,  guards!     (They  halt.) 
'Tis  I,  the  Chosen  of  the  Goddess,  bid  you ! 
Return  the  lamp  to  me !     'Tis  mine,  and  I 
Alone  may  have  it. 

[The  guards  hesitate,  looking 
from  the  Priest  to  Hero  in 
embarrassment. 

Priest 

(with  decision). 

Go !    I  am  your  master. 
You  take  my  orders. 

[The  guards  turn  to  go. 

Hero 

(beside  herself). 

Stay,  or  I,  the  priestess, 
Will  curse  you. 

[Moving    as    if    to    pursue    the 

guards.    The  Priest  steps  in 


Hero    and    Leander  149 

front  of  her,  extending  his  arm 
to  halt  her.  She  recoils.  Sud- 
denly she  reels,  staring  in  front 
of  her,  screaming: 

Is  it  you,  Leander?  You 
Are  Life.  They  cannot  slay  you.  Do  you  see 
Your  Hero's  light  to  guide  you?    .    .    .    No? 

.   .   .   Not  yet?   .   .   . 
I'll  bring  it  nearer    .    .    .   nearer.     Ha !    .    .    . 

Blackness, 
Blackness ! 

[Falls  unconscious  at  the  Priest's 

feet. 

Priest 
(calling  hack  the  guards). 

Here,  guards!  Come  quickly! 
[The  guards  come  running  back. 
(To  First  Guard:) 

Run,  summon 
Attendants  to  the  priestess.    She  is  ill. 

[Exit  First  Guard. 


150  Hero   and    Leander 

(To  Second  Guard  :) 

You  help  me  bear  the  priestess  to  her  room. 

\While  they  carry  Hero  into  the 
tower,  enter  the  Madman, 
from  the  right.  The  storm 
breaks  with  terrible  force,  with 
lightning,  thunder,  a  great 
wind  and  rain.  White  foam 
leaping  high  over  the  rocks. 
Priest  and  guard,  carrying 
Hero,  disappear  in  the  tower. 
Enter  three  maids,  hurrying 
into  the  tower.  Priest  and 
guard  issue  from  the  tower 
door,  closing  it.  Guard  exit  to 
right.  Priest  alone  in  the 
storm. 

Priest 

(giving  signs  of  great  suffering;  not  noticing 

the  Madman,). 
A  mighty  house  has  fallen ;  a  sacred  cause 
Lies  buried  in  the  ruins.    Ye  Gods,  whose  voice 


Hero   and    Leander  151 

Sounds  in  the  storm,  the  judgment  rests  with  you 
Alone !     Find  you  the  guilty  one,  speak  you 
The  sentence  I 

[During  the  following  scene, 
guards  pass  and  repass  now 
and  then  along  the  shore. 

Madman 

(shambling  up  to  the  Priest,  tapping  him  on 

the  shoulder). 

[The    Priest    turns  abruptly. 

Throughout     this     scene     the 

storm  is  at  its  height. 

Ho,  friend!     By  your  looks,  you  are  on  the 

same  errand  as  I.    It  is  an  errand  of  love.    Let 

us  go  together  I 

Priest. 

Leave  me,  friend.    I  must  not  be 
Disturbed. 

Madman 

(to  himself). 

He,  he,  he!     He,  too,  wishes  to  get  rid  of 

me.     How  every  one  loves  me!     I  don't  love 


152  Hero    and    Leander 

him,  so  I  wish  to  keep  him  till  I  love  him.  And 
then — (with  a  gesture  of  disposing  of  an  imag- 
inary person) — he  goes ! 

Priest. 
Tell  me  your  errand  quickly,  friend, 
And  leave  me. 

Madman. 

I  am  looking  for  the  Quintessence  of  Life ! 

Priest 
(taken  back). 
Of  Life !    He,  too,  of  Life ! 

Madman 
(whispering  in  his  ear). 
Yes,  and  I  am  on  the  track  of  it  to-night. 
But  it  is  a  secret.     It  is  the  Great  Nothing! 

Priest 

(startled;  to  himself). 

The  Great 
Nothing ! 


Hero   and    Leander  153 

Madman 
(picking  an  imaginary  flower). 
Do  you  see  this  rose? 

Priest. 

Go  on.     Yes. 
Madman 

(tearing  off  the  petals  of  an  imaginary  rose  and 

flinging  them  theatrically  to  the  winds). 

Well,  I  am  picking  its  petals  now,  one  by  one, 

one  by  one.     Look.     Do  you  know  what  I  am 

going  to  find?     Its  heart,  he,  he,  he!    When  I 

have  picked  all  the  petals,  then  I  have  the  heart 

of  the  rose.    That  is  the  Great  Nothing. 

Priest 
(startled,  as  if  a  fearful  idea  is  beginning  to 

dawn  on  him). 

Ah! 
Madman. 

Are  you  afraid?     I  am  often  afraid  of  the 

Great  Nothing;  when  all  is  calm  and  I  hear 

children  laughing.    But  when  it  is  like  to-night, 


154  Hero    and    Leander 

then  I  am  glad  and  come  out  to  see  the  storm, 
picking  the  petals  of  the  world  and  scattering 
them.  This  is  a  great  night!  How  the  petals 
are  flying!  He,  he,  he!  It  is  as  if  the  storm 
would  get  at  the  heart  of  things.  Then  we 
shall  have  the  Quintessence  of  the  Gods.  The 
Great  Nothing,  that  is  the  God!     He,  he,  he! 

Priest 

(shuddering). 

Ami 
Awake?    Is  this  a  nightmare,  or  has  he 

Come  from  the  blackest  corners  of  my  soul 

To  taunt  me  with  their  ancient  horrors? 

Madman 
(pointing  to  the  shore  rocks  over  which  white 
foam  is  seen  leaping). 
Do  you  see  them  peeping  over  the  rocks? 
He,  he,  he!  I  had  a  wife,  and  children,  and 
friends.  I  picked  them  all,  like  a  rose;  one  by 
one,  one  by  one,  until  I  had  the  pure  Nothing- 
ness of  Love.    The  Great  Nothing,  that  is  Love. 


Hero   and    Leander  155 

It's  all  the  same ;  the  rose,  the  Gods,  Love.  The 
Great  Nothing,  that  is  the  secret.    He,  he,  he ! 

Priest 
(agonised;  lifting  up  his  hands). 

Ye  Gods! 
The  burden  is  too  heavy.     Speak  to  me 
Out  of  this  night  of  anguish.    Take  my  life ! 
I  tried  to  hold  the  purpose  of  my  life 
True  to  your  service.     Make  an  end.     I  can 
Not  bear  it  longer. 

[A  blinding  flash  of  lightning,  im- 
mediately followed  by  a  fearful 
crash  of  thunder. 

Madman 
(terror-stricken). 
[The    Priest   shows    during    this 
passage  signs  of  an  increasing 
mad  fascination,  as  if  entering 
into  the  Madman's  spirit. 
Hooh!     I  am  afraid!     The  bosom  of  the 
Great   Nothing   is   opening.      How   cold   and 


156  Hero   and    Leander 

black !  Oh !  Oh !  The  serpents  are  coming 
out  of  the  darkness.  People  say,  they  are  the 
winds  in  the  grasses.  But  I  know  better.  They 
are  serpents.  They  are  trying  to  run  away 
from  the  Great  Nothing  because  they  are  the 
enemies  of  the  Gods.  (Shrieking.)  They  will 
swallow  us,  you  and  me.  (Calmer.)  But  the 
Gods  will  overtake  them.    He,  he,  he! 

Priest 
(grasping  him,  eagerly). 

Say  that  again,  that  last. 

Madman 
(leaping  away  in  terror). 
Do  not  handle  me  roughly.  I  might  break. 
(With  a  silly  pride.)  I  am  not  of  flesh  and 
blood,  I  am  of  a  finer  stuff.  I  am  made  of  glass, 
so  that  the  Great  Nothing  can  shine  through 
me  and  illumine  the  world.  Do  you  wish  to 
extinguish  the  Light  of  the  World? 


Hero    and    Leander  157 

Priest 

(starts  violently  at  the  last  words;  then  tries  to 
possess  himself;  finally,  in  simple  faith). 

The  Immortal  Gods  will  help  me.    I  must  seek 

In  prayer  their  counsel. 

[Slowly  exit  to  right. 

Madman 

(looking  after  him). 

He,  he,  he !    How  he  loves  me.    He  tried  to 

break  me,  he  loves  me  so.   (Feeling  of  himself.) 

But  I  am  quite  whole.     I  must  keep  out  of  his 

way,  though ;  he's  dangerous ! 

[Stepping  behind  each  tree  as  if 
seeking  shelter  from  a  pursuer. 
The  storm  from  now  on  abates 
gradually.  Enter  two  guards 
from  the  left. 

First  Guard. 
What  a  fearful  night! 

Second  Guard. 
The  storm  is  abating  now. 


158  Hero   and    Leander 

First  Guard. 
That  may  be.    But  look  at  the  sea !     (Point- 
ing into  the  distance  to  some  point  unseen  by  the 
audience.) 

Second  Guard. 
Can  you  make  out  Elephant's  Back? 

First  Guard. 
Well,  you  know  how  high  it  is.    The  waves 
sweep  clean  over  it.     Not  foam,  mind  you,  but 
dark  water. 

Second  Guard. 
By  Neptune!     It  will  go  hard  with  any  one 
that  was  caught  out  in  this  weather. 

[They  pass  on,  by  Hero's  tower. 

First  Guard. 
They  say  the  priestess  is  raving  mad  in  there. 

Second  Guard. 
Over  the  storm? 


Hero    and    Leander  159 

First  Guard. 
Guess  again!     People  don't  go  mad  over  a 
bit  of  wind  and  water. 

[A  cry  from  the  tower. 


Curtain 


ACTV 


T 


Act  V 

HE  same  scene.  It  is  early  morning.  All 
is  glistening  dewy  freshness  and  peace. 
A  clear  sky  with  a  rising  sun.  The  sea  is 
calm,  showing  no  traces  of  the  storm. 
Fresh  seaweed  is  scattered  over  the  rocks, 
and  a  large  heap  of  it  on  the  beach  in  front 
of  the  sea  passage  between  the  rocks. 

[The  door  of  the  tower  opens.  In 
it  appears  Hero  with  the 
maids  that  came  in  the  preced- 
ing scene  to  attend  her.  Hero 
pauses  a  moment  at  the  door. 
Then  they  all  descend. 

Philanthe 

(one  of  the  maids,  in  a  gay  manner,  trying  to 

cheer  Hero,). 

Look,  priestess,  how  calm  the  sea  is.     If  it 
163 


1 64  Hero   and    Leander 

were  not  for  the  drops  falling  now  and  then 

from  the  leaves,  and  the  seaweed  on  the  shore, 

one  would  not  believe  that  there  had  been  a 

storm  at  all. 

Hero 

(to  herself,  as  if  repeating  a  story  she  has  told 

to  herself  many  times  before). 

My  signal  failed.    The  lamp  outlasted  scarcely 

One  flash  of  lightning.     My  poor  ray  could  not 

Outspeed  the  dazzling  javelins  of  the  storm. 

Leander  never  started.     (Turning  furtively  to 

the  sea,  but  rapidly  averting  her  face  from 

it  again.) 

The  Gods  were  good 

To  him.     The  sea   loves  him.     It  gave  him 
warning. 

Philanthe. 

I  feel  so  light,  as  if  I  could  fly.    Ah !    Priest- 
ess, how  beautiful  it  is  to  be  alive. 

Hero 

(still  to  herself,  but  less  absorbed). 
The  morning  seems  to  come  on  spirit's  wings, 


Hero    and    Leander  165 

It  is  so  free  and  light.    All  heaviness, 
Whose  name  is  death,  has  gently  fallen  away. 

Philanthe 
(drawing  a  deep  breath). 
Ah!     Take  a  deep  breath,  like  that,  priest- 
ess !     It  washes  your  soul  so  clean  you  feel  as  if 
you  had  been  made  new  again. 

Hero 

(somewhat  comforted,   involuntarily   doing  as 
Philanthe  has  hidden  her;  smiling  a  lit- 
tle; then  speaking  raptly  as  if  in  adora- 
tion) . 
Ah  I     Such  must  be  the  breath  of  Life  that 

meets 
The  immortal  Gods  upon  those  shining  heights 
Where  they  arise  to  accept  the  adoration 
Of  the  returning  sun.     It  must  have  been 
Thus  to  the  first  men  when  the  earth  and  sky 
Brought  forth  the  morning;  when  the  new-born 
sun 


1 66  Hep. o   and    Leander 

Could  wake  no  memory  of  heavy  things; 
When  expectation  could  foresee  fulfilments 
Greater  than  promises,  and  did  not  shrink 
With  fearful  doubt. 

(She  is  depressed  again.) 

Another  Maid 
(trying  to  divert  her). 
Priestess,  look  at  that  large  heap  of  seaweed 
the  waves  have  piled  up,  there  at  the  rock  pas- 
sage.    I  have  never  seen  such  a  heap  there  be- 
fore.    Let  us  look  for  shells  in  it. 

Hero 

(to  the  maids). 

Pray,  leave  me  now, 

I  am  quite  well.    The  terror  of  the  night 

Has  left  me.    You,  Philanthe,  ask  the  priest 

To  see  me.    He  will  find  me  here.    I  wish 

To  speak  to  him. 

[Exeunt  maids. 

[Hero  alone;  moves  as  if  to  go  to 

the  sea  passage  in   the  rocks; 


Hero    and    Leander  167 

but  hastily  turns  away,  looking 
fixedly  at  some  point  on  the 
left,  straight  in  front  of  her. 
She  acts  as  if  she  felt  a  fearful 
unseen  presence  drawing  her  to 
the  edge  of  the  sea,  and  again 
repelling  her.  She  looks  now 
and  then  fearfully  and  hesitat- 
ingly around,  as  if  trying  to 
muster  up  courage  to  face  it; 
but  immediately  turns  away 
again  with  an  abrupt,  almost 
jerky  movement  of  her  head. 

Hero. 

The  Gods  were  kind.     If  he 
Were  lost,  all  of  Abydos  would  now  be 
Afloat  to  search  for  him.    No  anxious  prow 
Darkens  the  radiant  sea. 

(Again  trying  to  look  around  at  the  sea,  but 
quickly  turning  her  head  away.) 


168  Hero   and    Leander 

A  fiend  of  darkness, 
With  malice   fraught,   priest;   so  my  madness 

saw  you 
Last  night.     Forgive  me!     Now,  I  know  you 

walked 
In  the  mantle  of  mercy,  guarding  him 
From  death,  and  me  from  murder.     In  that 

sea 
No  light  would  have  availed. 
(Trying  once  more  to  look  at  the  sea,  furtively; 
but  again  averting  her  head  from  it  quickly. 
Then,  speaking  with  determination:) 

What  foolish  fear 
Possesses  me,  as  if  an  awful  presence, 
Half  drawing  me,  and  half  repelling,  stood 
Behind  me,  beckoning,  at  the  passage?    I 
Must  turn  straight  on  it,  to  dispel  it. 

[With  her  hands  clenched  at  her 
sides,  arms  rigidly  extended 
downward,  she  turns  toward 
the  passage.  A  very  brief 
pause;   then   she  advances 


Hero   and  Leander  169 

straight    toward    the    passage; 
stops  half-way. 

Behold! 
'Tis  gone.     Yes,  I  can  face  the  sea  now.     I 
Can  look  even  upon  this  deadly  passage 
Whose  hungry  maw  had  to  content  itself 
With  these  poor  mangled  seaweeds. 

[Advances  toward  the  heap  of  sea- 
weed.    Suddenly  starting  back. 
What  is  that, 
That  white  thing? 

[She  emits  a  terrible  scream;  then 
rushes  forward,  throws  herself 
upon  the  heap  of  seaweed,  fran- 
tically snatching  up  and  throw- 
ing away  a  few  handfuls  of 
weeds.  She  is  now  holding 
Leander' s  head,  which  is  hid- 
den by  her. 
Leander!  Leander!  Speak  to  me! 
Speak  to  me!     Leander!     Leander! 

[Busying  herself  over  him  franti- 


170  Hero   and    Leander 

cally;  snatching  the  weeds  from 
his  body  and  scattering  them 
about  her,  without  rising  or 
turning  away.  She  rises,  turns 
toward  the  audience,  standing 
rigid;  with  a  white  and  expres- 
sionless face,  saying  mechani- 
cally : 

Dead.    Leander,  dead. 
[Pause.     An  illumination  spreads 
over  her  features.     She  turns 
toward  the  body,  falling  upon 
it.     On  her  knees. 
Leander!     Dearest!     So  you  would  not  wait 
For  me  upon  your  journey?     Stole  away 
To  win  the  start  of  me!     Was  that  fair  play? 
Did  I  not  promise  I  would  follow  you 
Where'er  you  led?     (Drawing  his  dagger.) 

Ah,  but  you  left  a  key 
To  unlock  the  way  you  went !    Delay  a  little, 
Wait,  wait,  that  I  may  overtake  you. 

[Stabs  herself. 


Hero   and    Leander  171 

Wait! 
I'm  drawing  near,  Leander,  near ! 

[She  dies  upon  his  body. 

[Enter  Priest  from  the  right. 

Priest 

(with  a  certain  affectionate  buoyancy). 

The  Gods  be  thanked!     Hero's  herself  again. 

There  is  no  sign  to  indicate  Leander 

Was  mad  enough  to  affront  the  Gods.    As  for 

The  future,  I  will  take  precautions,  boy; 

I  and  your  father.    Hero,  child,  where  are  you  ? 

(Sees  Hero's  body.) 
Ah!     Hero! 

(Rushes  toward  her.    Kneels  down,  taking 

her  lifeless  form  in  his  arms.) 
Dead.   .   .   .   Beside  Leander's  body.   .   .   . 
(Rising,  lifting  up  his  hands.) 
Ye,  Immortal  Gods,  have  spoken,  but  your  sen- 
tence 
(brokenly)  Is  all  too  heavy  for  me ! 

[Enter,  running  from  the  left,  a 
Guard. 


172  Hero    and    Leander 

Guard 

(awestruck). 
Gods.   .   .  . 

Priest 

(quietly) . 

Guard,  your  message. 

Guard. 
Naukleros  has  come   into   the   harbor  com- 
manding an  Abydan  boat.  They  wish  to  search 
the  coast. 

Priest. 

They  may  come.   .    .    . 

[Guard  exit  in  haste. 

Priest 
(turning  to  the  bodies). 

The  Gods  have  spoken. 
The  Gods  have  joined  these  two.    .   .   .   Hero, 

child, 
This  joined  death  holds  for  you  more  of  worth 


Hero   and    Leander  173 

Than  the  great  life  I  planned  for  you ! 

(Overcome  by  grief.) 
[People  of  the  temple  come  run- 
ning from  the  direction  in 
which  the  Guard  left;  whis- 
pering together;  grouping 
themselves  near  the  bodies. 

Priest 
(rising,  looking  slowly  about  him;  motioning  to 

Guard,  who  approaches). 
Release  the  prisoners.    .    .    .    The  Gods  have 
spoken.    .    .    . 

[Enter  by  the  passage  through  the 
rocks,  a  boat  containing  Nau- 
kleros  and  Abydan  oarsmen, 
who  disembark. 

Naukleros. 
Woe !    Woe !    Leander !    Oh,  ye  Gods  of  Life, 
How  could,  how  could  you  break  your  fairest 
image ! 


1 74  Hero   and    Leander 

Priest 
(to  Naukleros^). 

Take  her  with  him.     These  two  may  not  be 
parted. 

One  common  grave  shall  hold  their  ashes;  thus 

The  immortal  union  of  their  spirits  find 

A  counterpart  on  earth. 

[Naukleros  and  the  oarsmen 
carry  the  bodies  into  the  boat 
while  a  chant  is  played.  All 
the  Sestans  crowd  noiselessly 
toward  the  shore,  turning  their 
backs  upon  the  Priest,  whose 
presence  they  seem  to  have 
forgotten.  The  Priest,  with 
bowed  head,  looking  neither 
right  nor  left,  leaves  slowly  to- 
ward the  right.  Simultane- 
ously with  his  departure,  the 
boat  is  seen  starting,  Nau- 
KLEROS  and  the  oarsmen  inton- 
ing the  chant.     The  sea  is  re- 


Hero   and    Leander  175 

splendent  with  a  great  morning 
light.  The  people  of  the  tem- 
ple remain  motionless  upon  the 
shore,  looking  after  the  boat, 
and  listening  to  the  chant, 
which  continues,  gradually  di- 
minishing, after  the  boat  has 
disappeared. 

Naukleros  and  the  Rowers 
(chanting  as  they  row). 
A  darkness  fell  upon  the  stricken  world, 
The  earth  was  empty  as  a  drained  cup ; 
And  men  knew   Death,   and  in  their  anguish 

cried : 
Why  have  the  Gods  of  Life  forsaken  us ! 

The  Gods  read  the  faint  hearts  of  men,  and 

smile. 
They  send  abroad  the  legions  of  the  Light, 
Dispelling  ever  the  dark  waste  of  Death, 
Ever  renewing  Life  upon  the  Earth. 


176  Hero    and    Leander 

Ye  that  would  be  the  servants  of  the  Gods, 
Obey  the  voice  of  Love  within  your  hearts. 
Love  is  the  sacred  guardian  of  Life, 
Knowing  the  deepest  purpose  of  the  Gods. 

[The  curtain  begins  to  descend  at 
the  last  word,  falling  slowly, 
while  the  chant  diminishes  to 
a  mere  murmur. 


\ 


f    UNIVERSITY   1 


Curtain 


DRAMATISTS  OF  TO-DAY 

Rostand,     Hauptmann,    Sudermann, 
Pinero,   Shaw,  Phillips,  Maeterlinck 

By  Prof.  EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE,  Jr.,  of  Union 
College.     With  gilt  top,  $1.50  net.     (By  mail,  $1.60.) 

An  informal  discussion  of  their  principal  plays  and  of  the 
performances  of  some  of  them.  A  few  of  those  considered  are 
Man  and  Superman,  Candida,  Cyrano  de  Bergerac,  L'Aig/on, 
The  Sunken  Bell,  Magda,  Ulysses,  Letty,  Iris,  and  Pelleas  and 
Melisande.  The  volume  opens  with  a  paper  "  On  Standards  of 
Criticism,"  and  concludes  with  "Our  Idea  of  Tragedy,"  and  an 
appendix  of  all  the  plays  of  each  author,  with  dates  of  their  first 
performance  or  publication. 

Bookman  :  u  He  writes  in  a  pleasant,  free-and-easy  way.  .  .  . 
He  accepts  things  chiefly  at  their  face  value,  but  he  describes 
them  so  accurately  and  agreeably  that  he  recalls  vividly  to  mind 
the  plays  we  have  seen  and  the  pleasure  we  have  found  in  them." 

New  York  Evening  Post :  "It  is  not  often  nowadays  that  a 
theatrical  book  can  be  met  with  so  free  from  gush  and  mere 
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Dial:  "  Noteworthy  example  of  literary  criticism  in  one  of  the 
most  interesting  of  literary  fields.  .  .  .  Well  worth  reading  a 
second  time." 

The    GERMAN    DRAMA   of  the 
NINETEENTH  CENTURY 

By  GEORG    WITKOWSKI.       Translated   by    Prof. 
L.  B.  HORNING.     i2mo.     Probable  price,  $1.25  net. 

This  brief  but  brilliant  monograph  after  a  great  success  on 
the  continent  is  to  be  published  simultaneously  in  America  and 
England. 

The  book  is  divided  into  five  headings,  representing  chrono- 
logically the  distinct  periods  which  marked  German  dramatic 
literature  during  the  nineteenth  century  : 

(x)  The  German  drama  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  ; 
(2)  The  German  drama  from  1800-1830  ;  (3)  The  German  drama 
from  1830-1885 ;  (4)  The  German  drama  from  1885-1900  ;  (5)  The 
product  of  the  century. 

Kleist,  Grillparzer,  Hebbel,  Ludwig,  Wildenbruch,  Sudermann, 
Hauptmann,  and  minor  dramatists  receive  attention. 

HENRY  HOLT  AND    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  NEW    YORK 


Recent  Poetry  of  Distinction 

HERO   AND   LEANDER 

By  Martin  Schutze  of  the  University  of  Chicago.  Probable 
price,  $1.25  net. 

A  poetic  drama  of  unusual  merit.  While  several  authors  have 
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starred  lovers  so  close  to  our  sympathies.  Professor  Schutze  has 
imagined  new  and  striking  episodes,  and  minor  characters  who  lend 
added  life  and  body  to  the  original  slender  legend. 

RAHAB 

A  Poetic  Drama  in  Three  Acts.     By  Richard  Burton,  author  of 
"Literary  Likings,"  "Forces  in  Fiction,"  "Life  of  Whittier," 
etc.     119  pp.     12mo.     $1.25  net.     By  mail,  $1.31. 
A  drama  of  the  fall  of  Jericho,  and  especially  of  the  part  which 
the  enchantress,  Rahab,  played. 

"...  A  poetic  drama  of  high  quality.  .  .  .  Simply  and  fluently  written, 
with  many  felicities  of  phrase.  .  .  .  Plenty  of  dramatic  action." — New 
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Handled  with  great  ingenuity  and  often  with  strong  dramatic  effect  .  .  . 
much  poetic  beauty  in  the  lines  .  .  .  and  the  action  is  well  sustained." — 
Chicago  Record-Herald. 

THE   PRINCESS   OF   HANOVER 

A  Play.  By  Margaret  L.  Woods,  author  of  "A  Village  Trag- 
edy."    $1.50  net.     By  mail,  $1.57. 

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APOLLO  AND  THE  SEAMAN  AND  OTHER  POEMS 

By  Herbert  Trench.     12mo.     Probable  price,  $1.50  net. 
The  author  is  already  very  favorably  known  by  his  Deirdre  Wedded 
and  Other  Poems. 

"  Full  of  magnificent  things." — William  Archer. 

"Unique  as  'The  Ancient  Mariner.'" — C.  K.  Chesterton  in  the  Daily 
News. 

"Deep  with  thought;  deep  with  significance." — George  Meredith. 

"  Here  at  length  is  an  Englishman  singing  from  the  heights  which  Goethe 
reached." — Frank  Harris  in  Vanity  Fair. 

Arthur  Colton's  HARPS   HUNG   UP  IN   BABYLON 

Some  forty  poems,  many  of  which  first  appeared  in  The  Atlantic, 
Century,  Scribner's,  etc.     $1.25  net.     By  mail,  $1.30. 

"  His  opening  lyric  is  as  lovely  a  bit  of  melody  as  one  will  find  in  recent 
poetry.  Mr.  Colton's  work  .  .  .  has  a  touch  of  its  own  and  a  charm  of 
personality." — Miss  Jessie  B.  Rittenhouse  in  Putnam's  Monthly. 

"  He  has  grace,  scholarship — his  adaptations  of  Horace  are  excellent — 
and  unfailing  optimism." — The  Spectator  (London). 

HENRY  HOLT  and  COMPANY  S^iSSS! 


FIVE     DELIGHTFUL    ANTHOLOGIES 

POEMS  FOR  TRAVELERS 

Compiled  by  Mart  R.  J.  DuBois.  16mo.  Cloth,  $1.50; 
leather,  ^2.50. 

Covers  France,  Germany,  Austria,  Switzerland,  Italy,  and 
Greece  in  some  three  hundred  poems  (nearly  one-third  of  them 
by  Americans)  from  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  poets.  All 
but  some  forty  of  these  poems  were  originally  written  in  English. 


The  three  following  books  are  uniform,  with  full  gilt 
flexible  covers  and  pictured  cover  linings.  16mo.  Each,  cloth, 
|1.50;  leather,  $2.50. 

THE  POETIC  OLD  WORLD 

Compiled  by  Miss  L.  H.  Humphrey. 

Covers  Europe,  including  Spain,  Belgium  and  the  British  Isles, 
in  some  two  hundred  poems  from  about  ninety  poets.  Some 
thirty,  not  originally  written  in  English,  are  given  in  both  the 
original  and  the  best  available  translation. 

THE  OPEN  ROAD 

A  little  book  for  wayfarers.     Compiled  by  E.  V.  Lucas. 

Some  125  poems  from  over  60  authors,  including  Fitzgerald, 
Shelley,  Shakespeare,  Kenneth  Grahame,  Stevenson,  Whitman, 
Browning,  Keats,  Wordsworth,  Matthew  Arnold,  Tennyson, 
William  Morris,  Maurice  Hewlett,  Isaak  Walton,  William 
Barnes,  Herrick,  Dobson,  Lamb,  Milton,  Whittier,  etc.,  etc. 

"A  very  charming  book  from  cover  to  cover."— Dial. 

THE  FRIENDLY  TOWN 

A  little  book  for  the  urbane,  compiled  by  E.  V.  Lqcas. 

Over  200  selections  in  verse  and  prose  from  100  authors, 
including :  James  R.  Lowell,  Burroughs,  Herrick,  Thackeray, 
Scott.  Vaughn,  Milton,  Cowley,  Browning,  Stevenson,  Henley, 
Longfellow,  Keats,  Swift,  Meredith,  Lamb,  Lang,  Dobson, 
Fitzgerald,  Pepys,  Addison,  Kemble,  Boswell,  Holmes,  Walpole, 
and  Lovelace. 

*  Would  have  delighted  Charles  Lamb."—  The  Nation. 


A  BOOK  OF  VERSES  FOR  CHILDREN 

Over  200  poems  representing  some  80  authors.  Compiled  by 
E.  V.  Lucas.  With  decorations  by  F.  D.  Bedford.  Revised 
edition.     $2.00.     Library  edition,  $1.00  net. 

"We  know  of  no  other  anthology  for  children  so  complete  and  well 
arranged. ' '—  Critic. 

HENRY   HOLT  AND  COMPANY       *SJFggg 


14  One  of  the  most  important  books  on  music  that  has  ever  been 
published:'-  W.  J.  HENDERSON  in  the  N.  Y.  TIMES. 

8th  PRINTING,  with  a  chapter  by  H.  E.  KREHBIEL,  covering 
Richard  Strauss,  Cornelius,  Goldmark,  Kienzl,  Humperdinck, 
Smetana,  Dvorak,  Charpentier,  Elgar,  etc.  _ 

LAVIGNAC'S 

Music  and  Musicians 

Translated  by  WILLIAM  MARCHANT. 

With   additional   chapters   by  HENRY  E.   KREHBIEL  on 
Music  in  America  and  The  Present  State  or  the  Art  or  Music. 

With  94  Illustrations  and  510  examples  in  Musical  Notation.  518  pp.,  izmo, 
#1.75  net.     By  mail,  $1.91. 

^  A  brilliant,  sympathetic  and  authoritative  work  cover- 
ing musical  sound,  the  voice,  musical  instruments,  con- 
struction aesthetics  and  the  history  of  music.  A  veritable 
musical  cyclopedia,  with  some  thousand  topics  in  the  index. 
Circular  with  sample  pages  on  application. 

W.  F.  APTHORP  in  the  Transcript  ;— 

Admirably  written  in  its  way,  capitally  indexed,  and  of  genuine  value 
as  a  handy  book  of  reference.  It  contains  an  «mmense  amount  of 
condensed  information  on  almost  every  point  connected  with  the  art 
ivhich  it  were  well  for  the  intelligent  music-lover  to  know.  .  .  .  Mr, 
Marchant  has  done  his  hard  task  of  translating  exceedingly  well.  .  . 
Well  worth  buying  and  owning  by  all  who  are  interested  in  musical 
knowledge. 

W.  J.  HENDERSON  in  the  N.  Y.  Times  :— 

A  truly  wonderful  production  ;  .  .  .  a  long  and  exhaustive  account 
of  the  manner  of  using  the  instruments  of  ^he  orchestra,  with  some 
highly  instructive   remarks   on  coloring.     .  .     Harmony  he  treats 

aot  only  very  fully,  but  also  in  a  new  and  intensely  interesting  way. 
.  .  Counterpoint  is  discussed  with  great  thoroughness.  ...  It 
seems  to  have  been  his  idea  when  he  began  to  let  no  interesting  topic 
escape.  .  .  .  The  wonder  is  that  the  author  has  succeeded  in 
making  those  parts  of  the  book  which  ought  naturally  to  be  dry  so  read' 
able.  ...  A  style  which  can  be  fairly  described  as  fascinating. 
...  It  will  serve  as  a  general  reference  book  for  either  the  musician 
or  the  music-lover.  It  will  save  money  in  the  purchase  of  a  library  by 
filling  the  places  of  several  smaller  books.  .  .  .  A  complete  directory 
of  musical  literature.  .  .  .  One  of  the  most  important  bonks  on 
music  that  have  ever  been  published. 

HENRY   HOLT    &    COMPANY, 

NEW  YORK,  CHICAGO. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


DEC    C    1936 

CCD       OO     1C\AA 

rtfcs    tc3  1944 

• 

LD  21-100m-8,'34 

<MJ4     cl 


XB 


"3  J  Q^^ 


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